by mariahail 24 Aug 2009

BAD NEWS FOR ALL THE CUTIES ON SOCIAL SECURITY:There is not going to be any increase for the next two years and the medicare premiums are going up!!!!

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by marjialexa Moderator 05 Sep 2009

Linda, I hear you! I've worked since I was 14, I even had a pension, but the stock market dropped and so did that little money I was counting on. Social Security Disability pay is ok, but the cost of things keeps going up and up. No matter if they give us 2 or 3 percent, $30 a month is not going to make ends meet, girls! I'd work if I could, but I'm like you, who the heck in their right mind would hire me? I have fibromyalgia, some days I can get up, some days I can't. I can see telling an employer that. I'll be there when I can, and give you no notice when I can't. Right, they'd be excited. My teeth are breaking off, I don't have the money for the dentist. If I want a pair of glasses, they'll cost me $500, because I have bad astigmatism and a strong perscription, as well as need the reading part. Yes, my animals are expensive, but darn it, they're my FAMILY. There is no one else. I've lost 2 husbands, parents, my only brother, my friends who were here in town, all dead now. So there's me, and the cats and the dog. And my farm and my memories of 50 years here. In order to live on my income, they want me to give up the farm, give up the animals, and go live in some little one room apartment in a wrinkle village in the middle of town, with no garden, no way to get outside in the sun, stupid 10th floor, have to take an elevator, no way to have my own washer & dryer, no where to put my car...right, that's living? No, I don't think so. Oh, yeah, and they told me I should go play Bingo to socialize with people!! Ok, I was at Woodstock, people, just how likely do you think my playing bingo is!! I'm giving serious consideration to moving to Costa Rica, I heard we could actually live on our pensions there. And, it wouldn't snow. This country has gone to the dogs. I hope we can all survive, folks, somehow. Maybe we should bring back the idea of communes? Oh, well, hugs and flowers anyway, Marji

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by lflanders 05 Sep 2009

I worked from age 16 until I could no longer stand up or walk around. It then took me 3 years and a lawyer to get disability. The last job I had, I worked for the same person for 24 1/2 yrs and missed less than 2 weeks out of work due to illness(or any other reason). During this time I fought arthrithis for more than 10 of those years. I do not get enough disability to pay my bills and buy my groceries. My car is a 2003 with not alot of miles. It has been paid for for several years. My double-wide is paid for but the lot rent is more than the payments would have been. Lot rent takes half of my check. Last month I could not even buy groceries. At least I had groceries in my cabinets and in my freezer. It was the things like milk and bread,etc. that did come to my house. My Dr. bills are out of site with my legs like they are and my meds scare me everytime I have to go to the drug store. My son is still upset with me because he had to buy $44.00 worth for me last month. These are meds that I can not go without! My eyes are past due for a check-up and I can not tell you when I have been able to go to the dentist. My clothes are falling off of me or are worn out because I have not been able to buy any in at least 5 years. NOW, you are going to tell me that there is no help in sight? I do not know where anything else is coming from and everything keeps getting higher. I wonder every minute I am awake how I am going to pay all these medical bills I have just trying to save my legs. All of this scares me half to death to think about it. I would gladly go back to work if there was any kind of a job I could do in my condition. I have to spend 15 minutes out of every hour in bed with my legs propped up because of poor circulation. This is going to be a lifetime thing. Who in their right mind would hire a 62 yr old as many people out there that are looking for a job even if I could go back to work. My son forced me to move from a small town to the surburbs of Atlanta with the promise that he would pay my lot rent. that was in Nov. of 2007 and he has paid it 1 time. He wanted me up here close to him because of my health. He got married a year ago and I have barely seen him since. There are so many that have so much less than I do and I have no idea how they make it. It is just me and my 2 Pekingese living here and I would do for them before I do for myself. I have had Bebesince she was born and she is almost 14 and has cancer. Patty is 4 and I adopted her in Oct of 2007. Those two help me keep my sanity. They are my little girls and my best friends. Their Vet bills and meds come before mine. Of course they are alot less! Just as soon as my legs get well again, I am going back home, If I have to leave everything I own up here. My son refuses to help me get back home. I am going back where I will be close to my friends and what is left of my family. It is a small town and everything is less expensive than in the Atlanta area. I have been alone up here since the day my son met his future wife and they will have been married a year the 19th of this month. There is no way that I can live off of less than I am living off of now and stay in the Atlanta area. Linda

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by sissibrode 03 Sep 2009

Social Security works pretty well in France, health expenditures are relatively well reimbursed ... but the ideal is to have a mutual complementary. However, the fee waiver to the doctor only works in big cities. But the hospital bills are paid, not a penny to pay. I think the system is quite good.:o)

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by colonies1 26 Aug 2009

so what are we if we make less than 45000.00 a year?????

1 comment
cinderoak by cinderoak 26 Aug 2009

my point exactly!

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by ahgirlblonde007 25 Aug 2009

As a registered nurse... I have noticed that with insurance/ medicare/ medicaid one thing is certain, they give it, to take it away in the end. You think you are getting alittle perk. But, careful, read the fine print. Nothing is free, and somethings are over priced... ie our healthcare. I am not of medicare age, but know that I pay close to $800 month for health insurance. And to see the majority of the patients in the hospitals are coming up with no insurance, partially because they can't afford it. Heck... I can barely afford it!!!

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by nonmusicmom 25 Aug 2009

I hate politics.!!!!

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by nonmusicmom 25 Aug 2009

We have made it before and by the grace of GOD we will make it again.I am on S.S.D. and have been since I was 42yrs old.

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by shirlener88 25 Aug 2009

What on earth will we do? They say we are going to live longer and longer - what can we do? Hmmmmmmmm!

1 comment
blhamblen by blhamblen 25 Aug 2009

And they are going to set an age limit with the new health plan so AFTER that certain age you will be considered "To Old to FIX" so no surgery to make your quality of life better...ie back surg, knee/hip replacements...cataracts ..heart/pacemakers on and on.....

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by cinderoak 24 Aug 2009

Ah yes, but don't worry they WILL raise your taxes and cut your benefits!
Oh wait it is only on the people who make more than 250,000 a year..I mean 200,000...wait it is 150,000...no I said 120,000...no its 80,000...I mean? Did you know the poverty level is now 45,000 and you are considered homeless if you live in an apartment?
I mean everyone is going to have to do their part for the good of all. So don't complain about the rising taxes or groceries or electricity, and do plant a tree while I am enjoying my beach vacation.
Just don't get hurt while you are doing it because we have substandard healthcare unless we pass my plan. {Our President paraphrased}
Welcome to the new America.
Glad my hope is in Jesus!
I am praying for all of you who are on fixed incomes. Know that I vote and my congressional representatives and senators are on speed dial.

4 comments
simplyrosie by simplyrosie 25 Aug 2009

I just love redistribution... spreading the wealth... aren't you all excited to pay more for those "less fortunate"? Shame on me for thinking my hard work should be rewarded with higher income... oh my gosh, what was I thinking! lol... Come Jesus come, and quickly.

simplyrosie by simplyrosie 25 Aug 2009

And don't get me started about nationalized health care! Good grief! I'm so tired of gov't control... doesn't anyone read the constitution anymore? :-(

cinderoak by cinderoak 25 Aug 2009

AMEN!!!!!!

colonies1 by colonies1 26 Aug 2009

so what are you if you make only 12000.00 a year...........way below poverty level that is for sure.

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by simplyrosie 24 Aug 2009

That's okay Maria, they're putting the money to good use.. you know, paying for illegals and this ridiculous health care plan. Oh I'm so excited girls I just can't contain myself.

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by marjialexa Moderator 24 Aug 2009

Yeah, bad news, but it was just as bad last year. We got a "really big raise" last year, right? And I ended up in the hole, because the increase in medicare premium and Part D premium was more than the so-called "raise". So, I would have been better off if they gave me NO raise, but didn't change the premiums either! Then everyone who isn't on Social Security crabs about the "huge raise" we got last year, not looking at the reality of it, and says that senior citizens are greedy, and we're not really poor. Come live at my house, all those yuppies, see what reality is! And your fancy blackberry won't work out here, either, because we have no "bars", hee hee hee. Wouldn't I like to see that, just for a month. They'd be singing a different tune, that's for sure. Don't worry, Maria, if they don't "get" us this way, they'll find another way to do it. Funny, just because we've worked since we were 14 years old, we seem to think we deserve to get the retirement benefits we're supposed to be entitled to, silly us!! Maybe they should put us on an iceberg and float us out to sea, hee hee hee. Nah, I think I'll stick around and bug them to death just by living, hee hee hee. Hugs, Marji

1 comment
blhamblen by blhamblen 24 Aug 2009

YEA..but with the new health program proposal since you are OLD...you cost too much to fix...so medicare/medicade isn't going to pay for your surgery!!!

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by blhamblen 24 Aug 2009

I'm not on it YET..(If there is any left when I become of age)...but what really burns me is that those politicians that are making all the changes don't contribute to SS AND they don't collect it either...but with a retirement fund that they give themselves...SS is just pennies!!!

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by lbrow 24 Aug 2009

Well that includes my husband & I. thanks Maria *

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by manami 24 Aug 2009

It seems Social Security is a problem all over the world. It's all in their hands, and we have to just follow.
I hope the economy gets better soon, and the government put more effort in health programs. A big hug for you Maria.
Love, Yoriko

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by grandmamek 24 Aug 2009

I read that too. But at least the base amount stays the same and I think from what I read the medicare premiums are only only on the prescription part of it and not the actual medicare premium itself. and they said that would be $2.00 increase on the prescription. I may be wrong on this and possibly misunderstood what I was reading. Anybody else have thoughts on this?

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by ruthie 24 Aug 2009

Sorry to hear that Maria, it will be a big blow to a lot of people, two years can be a long time. Here's some love and hugs to help you over your disappointment sweetie.

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