Medicare Advantage took a hit while the press slept

While Congress and President Bush were talking about taking money away from Medicare Advantage subscribers and giving it to physicians, the press wasn't paying any attention, not that I detected. They weren't paying attention until it came time to pontificate about the righteousness of it, which is when The Advocate and some others gave it their editorial approval.

I doubt they understood the implications of what they were preaching, or backed their editorial positions by interviewing beneficiaries of different types of health plans.

Further, I doubt if Congress - including Senators Voinovich and Brown and Representative Space - understood what they were taking away by giving Medicare Advantage money to physicians. President Bush understood it and vetoed the bill because he said he favored paying physicians in full but getting the money to do so from a source other than Medicare Advantage providers.

He was shouted down by legions of AARP members and others who were whipped into a frenzy of ill-placed support, thinking they would lose medical services if physicians didn't get what they demanded. But what they probably didn't realize is that AARP is a seller of "Medigap" Medicare insurance and stands to lose sales to Medicare Advantage. In fact, if you read AARP stuff it's pretty easy to see that more than anything else the AARP is in the insurance business - period - with sales aimed at older people.

The differences among health plans available to seniors are complex and obscure, which is why special-interest insurers, such as AARP, find it easy to snocker old people such as me. Since I heard about the implications of the congressional override of the President's veto about three days ago, I have been trying to find out who the players are, what the score it, and what's at stake. I've spent hours on the Internet and elsewhere and I admit that I am still confused about some of it.

But you can count me among the extremely satisfied customers of Humana, one of the Medicare Advantage providers.

Here's how the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) defines Medicare Advantage plans: "Unlike original Medicare, which is administered by the federal government, Medicare Advantage plans are provided by private insurers. The government pays the insurer a fixed monthly fee to provide services to each Medicare beneficiary under their care. Such plans are attractive because they offer the same basic coverage as original Medicare, along with additional benefits and services that original Medicare doesn't offer. They are designed to provide better services and lower out-of-pocket costs."

Some are better than others, of course, and some of these plans present some problems, but - again from the ODA - "Most Medicare Advantage plans, however, deliver as promised and have high customer satisfaction."

Count me among these folks. I've been a subscriber to Humana Gold Choice plan for about two years. It is affordable and user-friendly. It has health maintenance programs through education and such programs as "Silver Sneakers" (offering free membership at the YMCA, for instance) which are useful and greatly appreciated.

As for keeping up with medical bills, Humana is a Godsend. Unlike the old days of trying to find out what the insurance company has paid and what the government has paid, and what is still owed, Humana coordinates payment for health-care providers and communicates clearly about what's going on. Customer service by phone and Internet has, in my case, been perfect every time, and there are few if any other government or private services about which I can say that.

If the Medicare Advantage plans have indeed been submarined by this latest Congressional action, then there are a lot of seniors who may not know it yet, but who are about to lose money, lose time, lose some great services, and lose their tempers.

We're in a mental recession? How about that guy peeing in the pool?

America has for the past four years watched its president pee in the world's pool, particularly that part inhabited by this country's middle- and lower-economic class citizens. Meanwhile, Congress has never been more inept or ineffective against such a White House.

So distraught and angry with the complete breakdown of their government have citizens become that now even "desk rage" is in vogue. Read about it here.

To goose up America's wrath, there's this McCain fat-cat calling us a "nation of whiners" who are in a "mental recession." Former Sen. Phil Gramm, who said that (read it here) is probably a millionaire many times over at the expense of America's working people, something like King Bush's oil buddies.

How much more before a serious revolution?

A major implication of higher property tax

Voters who rent their homes or apartments will be affected by the outcome of the August 5th school levy request.

If the taxes are raised by 9.5 mills, as will be proposed at the polls, renters almost surely will feel the squeeze as a way of relief to the landlords. That's a point easily missed by renters who don't get the connection between the cost of owning and the cost of renting.

Because the vote is scheduled August 5th instead of regular election day, it will cost Newark School District about $40,000. And why would the schools, who say they can't afford to properly bus students to school and back spend $40,000 on a special election? Why that would be because it is a direct and shameless attempt to squeeze out a full vote and limit it to the beneficiaries: teachers, employees, administrators, and parents.

Folks who can't attend the August 5th election can vote by absentee ballot. I've explained how to do that and offered links to previous essays on this deceptive move by Newark Schools at this link.

New info on the past from Bill Clifford

A photo display in the Newark Tea Party Replay Gallery has been updated with new information, thanks to Bill Clifford, former radio newsman. There are two photos from an event held at the Joe Sinsabaugh estate showing Ronald Reagan, William Buckley and John Ashbrook. Here's the link.

Bill was kind enough to remind me of some of the details, along with lots of other little things in Bill's and my history. He worked for WCLT in the early 70's and again in the mid-80's. He served on Newark City Council from 1976-79 and was an auxiliary fire chief.

That was during the years when Gene Malloy and Tom Bader served as chiefs of Newark Fire Department. Gene is featured in one of the Gallery Replay pages at this link.

Turns out they all get together for breakfast once in a while. Here's what Bill said about it:

(Remember: Radio guys always write in caps (so they'll be heard?))

CHIEF MALLOY IS 83. HE WILL BE 84 ON CHRISTMAS DAY. HE AND HIS WIFE, MARY, LIVE IN NEWARK AGAIN AFTER A NEVER TO RETURN MOVE TO FLORIDA IN ABOUT 1978. THEY HAVE BEEN BACK FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

WE HAVE BEEN CLOSE FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY SINCE LOSING MY MOM AND DAD NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO. IN FACT WE MEET FOR BRUNCH NEARLY EVERY SATURDAY AT SOME LOCAL RESTAURANT. HIS WIFE JOINS US ALONG WITH TOM BADER WHO BECAME CHIEF WHEN GENE RETIRED. ALL ARE IN VERY GOOD HEALTH FOR THEIR AGES.

Bill also had more info about the totem pole featured recently at this link.

MY LATE FATHER, TIM CLIFFORD, WAS PLANT MANAGER AT LICKING LAUNDRY ON JEFFERSON STREET WHEN THE RACCOON CREEK FLOODED THE WEST SIDE OF NEWARK FROM NEAR 6TH STREET TO CHURCH STREET ON THAT FATEFUL JANUARY DAY.

THE RISING RIVER ASSOCIATION CONSISTED OF NEWARK BUSINESSMEN WHO RAISED MONEY TO HAVE AN INDIAN FROM ALASKA CARVE THE POLE TO KEEP THE EVIL WATERS OF THE LICKING WITHIN ITS BANKS. I THINK HE MAY HAVE COME TO NEWARK TO CARVE IT AND SEE THAT IT WAS ERECTED PROPERLY.

THE LICKING, SINCE THAT TIME HAS NEVER FLOODED TO THE DEGREE OF THE 1959 FLOOD.

IT LOOKS LIKE NEWARK’S FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FOR 46 YEARS, ALTHOUGH A COAT OF PAINT MAY BE HELPFUL.

Bill also told me that about 1964 or 65 ...

NEWARK SCHOOL TEACHER RON CALLENDINE HAD SET UP HIS HOME-MADE TELESCOPE FOR HIS SCIENCE CLASSES AT ROOSEVELT. I CAN’T REMEMBER IF IT WAS 8TH OR 9TH GRADE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NEAT TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A PICTURE OF THESE YOUNG SCIENTISTS LOOKING AT THE STARS. I GOT A HOLD OF YOU AT HOME, YOU CAME UP AND TOOK SEVERAL PICS AND AT LEAST ONE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE ADVOCATE. THIS WAS DONE AT JOHNNY CLEM SCHOOL YARD, ON JEFFERSON ROAD. I WAS ABOUT 14 OR SO.

JUST TO PROVE I HAVE “NEWSMAN” BLOOD, I REMEMBER A PROJECT EACH OF US HAD TO DO IN THE FIRST GRADE AT BEN FRANKLIN IN 1956-57. CAPITOLA LOUGHMAN WAS OUR TEACHER. I DID A THERMOMETER, BECAUSE I WAS FASCINATED BY, OF ALL PEOPLE, JOE HOLBROOK AT CHANNEL 10. JOE IS RETIRED NOW, BUT WENT BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO A TRIBUTE TO FLIPPO THE CLOWN, WHEN FLIPPO (BOB MARVIN) DIED.

THERE ARE SO MANY EVENTS TO REMEMBER, AT AGE 57, ITS HARD TO BELIEVE WHERE TIME HAS GONE.

Your memories and input are greatly appreciated, Bill. I'm sure you are well-remembered and you could write a heck of a blog here, even if it would have to be in all-caps.

Pride Parade: Flaunting raunchy junk

The Columbus, Ohio "gay pride" parade has been accurately defined as a "burlesque show" which lacks "consideration of the general public" and "emulate(s) mostly false values about the gay community."

That was written by a homosexual as a letter to the editor of the Columbus Dispatch, published 7/5/08.

The letter of John A. Rovenolt demonstrates that not all homosexuals believe it necessary to shove into society's collective face the implications of what homosexuals do with their sexual organs. Folks like me who are puke sick of reading about people flaunting their sexual preferences and who object to having this raunchy junk showcased where children can see it, will find a lot to agree with in what Rovenolt says.

Consenting adults can do as they will in private, and I certainly don't care what it is, but homosexuality as such is neither news nor is it important nor is it to be celebrated in public, and it's past time when the Dispatch and other mass media understand that.

My heroine was wearing tan

She was wearing a tan dress and had stopped her brown car at the edge of the Newark expressway, just east of the bike-trail bridge from which I watched her about 9 a.m. today.

She got out of her car and carefully made her way to the far side of the roadway. I thought at first - a hubcap, maybe?

It was, instead, a little unmoving animal, perhaps a kitten or a puppy.

I watched her go over and look down for a second or two, then get back across two lanes of high-speed traffic, enter her car, and drive away.

In that beautiful moment I saw another heroine of mine from many years ago, taking dangerous risks for the well-being of animals.

Pat Riley, who founded the local humane society, was just that kind of person. She fought off traffic, politicians, and a lot of mean people for the betterment of dogs, cats, and any animal that needed her.

Thank God for Pat Riley, and for that lady wearing tan - women who have the guts to do what the rest of us avoid.

Howard LeFevre may have tamed the Licking River

Maybe it was small potatoes among Howard LeFevre's accomplishments, but to me it was big stuff when he planted his totem pole. Also, it serves as a reminder to me of my first meeting with Mr. LeFevre. Here's the link.