Can Trump stop the Harris momentum?
The presidential race is a toss-up at this time. Oddsmakers give a slight edge to Vice President Harris. The only good news for President Trump is that Harris has not achieved a commanding lead – but that is not impossible.
Harris’ current situation is notable since before being announced as the replacement Democrat candidate, Harris was considered to be a weak contender – with favorability polling even worse than the toppled President Biden. Forcing out Biden was a desperation move by Democrat leaders since he was likely to be crushed in a face-off with Trump. At least that is what Democrat strategists and political figures were saying.
The chorus of voices calling on Biden to quit the race was growing every day. It eventually included even the most powerful leaders in the party – including Speaker Emerita Pelosi, President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, House Minority Leader Jeffries, political strategists such as David Axelrod, left-wing media personalities and a bevy of major donors.
Old Joe had to go – and the only option at such a late stage was a quick switch-a-roo with Harris. That was obvious. There was no time for a mini primary, debates, a convention fight or other candidates to engage. She had it locked by circumstances.
So … how did the unpopular Harris become the shining star of the Democratic Party?
Anyone who did not see the potential for a comeback is a fool. Harris would get an instant bump in the polls by not being Trump AND not being Biden.
She also benefited from the Democratic Party’s pragmatism when it comes to power. Democrat officeholders tend to coalesce rather than risk election defeats. Winning is the primary strategy. We saw that in the Biden ouster. We see that in the lockstep solidarity behind Harris from fairly moderate Democrats, such as West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, to radical left-wingers, such as Vermont socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. We see it in the across-the-board toady response from the left-wing media. The entire Democrat establishment is on board with Harris.
Rather than address issues — especially her unpopular left-wing issues – the Harris campaign promoted the sizzle rather than the steak. The campaign theme song could be “Happy Talk” from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific.” In case you are not familiar with it here are the opening lyrics.
Happy talk, keep talkin’ happy talk
Talk about things you’d like to do
You got to have a dream, if you don’t have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the moon floatin’ in the sky
Lookin’ at a lily on the lake
Talk about a bird learnin’ how to fly
Makin’ all the music he can make.
Sound familiar?
Rather than expressing her historic positions from the get-go, Harris is initially running a happy talk campaign as she reinvents herself as less radical. Her most definitive policy statements have been rejecting what she said in the past – such as no fracking and Medicare for all. In an unusual specificity on an issue, she simply parroted Trump’s proposal to take the tax off tips.
Having said all that, Team Harris gets an A+ for political strategy. She is carrying out pragmatically the best possible strategy. In that regard, her rollout as a presidential candidate has been almost flawless.
That does not mean she does not have problems – or that her momentum will continue in the long run. The competitive campaign becomes very real following the National Democratic Convention. That is the time when voters start to give the campaigns greater attention – more so these days because the earliest of the early voting starts in on September 9 in North Carolina. That is right. Voting starts in less than 25 days.
Harris has gained ground over Biden, but her lead is very fragile – mostly in the margin of error. But being a smidgeon ahead is better than being behind a smidgeon.
How the election plays out in the future largely depends on Trump. Harris has her weaknesses and her vulnerabilities – both issue-wise and personality-wise. More on the former than the latter. That is why Trump has to focus on the former rather than the latter – something he fails to appreciate.
Even as Harris entered the race, the election was Trump’s to lose. It is fair to say that he did not respond to Harris with a winning strategy – and it has cost him.
There is still time for Trump to get back on a winning path – but not a lot of time. If he continues to focus on Harris’ personality and Walz’s military service, he will lose the election. On the major issues, Trump is more popular for his positions on the economy, inflation, immigration and crime – the issues of most concern to voters. If he uses his limited media access to lead with his personal attacks – which is what is least popular about
Hey, you can’t share lyrics here. Joe has no lyrics here. Drunk moderator don’t like no stinkin lyrics here….. :>)
Like I said:
Be careful what you ask for.
Once again, my fav Kurt Russell from “Tombstone:”
All right, Trumplicants (Clanton). You called down the thunder, well, now you’ve got it! You see that? (shows Kamala for President badge). It says “Presidential Candidate” (United States Marshal). (gestures to old Biden for President poster) Take a good look at him, Trumplicants, because that’s how you’re gonna end up! The Trumplicants are finished, you understand me? I see red, I vote out the old white man wearin’ it! So run, you cur! Run! Tell all the other curs that Kamala’s coming! You tell ’em Walz is coming and Hell’s coming with them, you hear? Democratic Hell’s coming with them!
Be careful what you ask for……
What are you babbling about?
Archie, twas a joke, the theme being “be careful what you ask for” given Trumplicant’s demand that Joe step down because he’s old, tired, demented, or worse.
I paraphrased with edits, Kurt Russell’s speech as Wyatt Earp, in the movie Tombstone which I gather you have seen.
Like I said, be careful what you ask for. You asked for the thunder, and now he has stepped down and you got it with Harris. Then be careful what you ask for, when Trumplicants said she’s a women, she’s not that black. You asked for the thunder and you got old white plain speaking Walz.
Be very careful what you ask for next. Your last two “asks” did not end well.
Let’s see —- Trumplicants been asked about crowd size, cuz you’re all about size. How’s that going?
You asked about dropping the agreed-upon debate, how’s that going?
You asked about the no-vote primary and she got all the delegate votes so how is that going?
The more you ask to put her into a box, the more she breaks out of your box. I think you gonna need a bigger box :>(
The Trumplicants as you call us, did not ask for Joe to step down since it was obvious to all of us that Trump would beat him into the ground. But, as usual, switch the narrative to cover up your own side’s blunders. If you think that replacing Joe was what the right wanted think again. If you all thought he stood a chance against Trump, we wouldn’t be discussing Kamala as the savior of the party because, before the coup, she was the last person the left wanted leading the troops. But I suppose you all have got to make the best of your horrible situation..
VT: From NPR post the debate and I can find much similar before the debate. Yes, you called for te departure, the idea you could win came later, with poll data.
From NPR: House Speaker Mike Johnson called on President Biden to “resign the office” immediately, saying in a statement: “If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President…November 5 cannot arrive soon enough.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, also a member of Republican leadership, echoed the sentiment: “If Joe Biden can’t run for re-election, he is unable and unfit to serve as President of the United States,” Stefanik, R-N.Y., wrote on X. “He must immediately resign.”
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said she will introduce a resolution Monday calling on Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment to force Biden to step aside.
“If Joe Biden does not have the cognitive ability to seek reelection, he does not have the cognitive ability to serve the remainder of his term,” Mace wrote on social media.
And yes, we are makin the best of it. Enjoy.
Final answer: NO
Resistance is futile.
Assimilation is the way.
Herd
Wow. Biden/Harris just lowered prices on ten drugs. Will cut my bill by 50% or more.
The momentum continues!
Frank Stetson …. I have had zero co-pay on my drugs for years. And my insulin has been $35 since Trump lowered it. You must be on some very expensive drugs if a 50 percent reduction is meaningful.
Yes Larry, damn shame Trump could not get the job done that our dear old demented Biden got done!
Check out the list and 2023 / 2024 prices at * https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/08/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-lower-prices-for-first-ten-drugs-selected-for-medicare-price-negotiation-to-lower-costs-for-millions-of-americans/*
Thanks for caring about the people POTUS Biden!
Larry, you are on Florida Care Plans, correct? *https://floridacare.com/*
Hey stupid. Kumala ain’t in any position to lower anything except her panties right now. IF the cunt were to be elected, during her 2nd term you wouldn’t recognize the country anymore
Jim Wampler: Actually Kamala and Joe just lowered ten drugs starting in 2026. It’s a fact Jack and we won’t go back. Prices are the maximum Medicare Part D plans and the patient will pay for a one-month supply.
1. Eliquis, for preventing strokes and blood clots, from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, $231
2. Jardiance, for diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease, from Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly, $197
3. Xarelto, for preventing strokes and blood clots, from Johnson & Johnson, $197
4. Januvia, for diabetes, from Merck, $113.
5. Farxiga, for diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease, from AstraZeneca $178
6. Entresto, for heart failure, from Novartis, $295
7. Enbrel, for autoimmune conditions, from Amgen, $2,355
8. Imbruvica, for blood cancers, from AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson, $9,319
9. Stelara, for autoimmune conditions, from Johnson & Johnson, $4,695
10. Fiasp and NovoLog insulin products, for diabetes, from Novo Nordisk, $119
To be honest, not sure how much this will save me; I’m on a Cadillac health care plan and I might almost be here already. But while it’s only ten drugs, many competitors will have to match price to stay in the game so the effect will be much wider than just these ten.
This is on top of the Type 1 Insulin price reductions Biden already put into place, by law, to replace Trump’s notice to big pharma to voluntarily drop prices. Not many did under Trump, but he claims he is responsible for Joe and Kamala’s law. But I am glad you can already foresee her second term :>) And, as of today, it sure looks like she has a great chance of winning. The more Don talks, and people listen, the better Kamala looks. The young folks have returned, energized. Minorities are coming back and they are motivated. Money is flowing in, and Joe was not doing bad there to begin with.
FYI: you said the same think about the country and Biden and not only do I recognize it, but I am healthier, wealthier, than under Trump who basically just gave us a bad case of extreme debt. Biden and Kamala have lowered our deficits too.
Frank Stetson … You say you have a Cadillac health plan. If you are taking any of the drugs you list and are paying the prices you lists, you health plan is an Edsel. I have taken Xarelto for a few years and NEVER paid anywhere near the price you list. That and insulin are the only ones I have a co-pay. Insulin has been $35 per month since Trump reduced it and around $50 for the Xarelto. That means my total monthly med cost is around $85. The eight other prescription drugs I take have no co-pay. And my monthly insurance premium is zero. I also gen $40 a month to buy the supplements I take and other stuff. My co-pay on my personal care physician is … zero. Specialists are $35 per visit. Blood test… no co pay. I am not unique. Several friends have the same costs structure as I do. None of them are paying the prices you list. Not even close.
Having said all that, their are issues with healthcare costs. But the cost of drugs for Medicare patients is not the most critical of them — unless it is one of the super high cost drugs — and even then there ae ways to reduce the costs. Most Medicare patients are not in that situation, Most are like me, who have great coverage, or like you, who seems to think you have great coverage, but apparently not.
Larry, you show just how “out of touch” you really are when you say this; “Having said all that, their are issues with healthcare costs. But the cost of drugs for Medicare patients is not the most critical of them — unless it is one of the super high cost drugs — and even then there ae ways to reduce the costs. Most Medicare patients are not in that situation,…”
You have no idea how many people in the USA are living at or below Federal Poverty Level, or, at 150% or lower of poverty level.
Just in NC alone, In North Carolina, 623,988 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 680,731 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
Now look at the national map to see just how much of a buffoon you really are on this subject: *https://www.kff.org/medicare/state-indicator/medicare-beneficiaries-by-fpl/?activeTab=map¤tTimeframe=0&selectedDistributions=under-100percent&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D*
There are 61.2M Medicare beneficiaries and an additional 12.5M dual eligible (Medicare + Medicaid) which also includes those under 65 and disabled. That is a total of 73.7 Million people!!!! That is about 22.3% of the entire USA population. THAT’S BIG!!!
Larry, you live in your own little bubble on this issue and spew out really stupid remarks sometimes!!!
And 22.3% is a hell of a lot of voters!!!!
Tom …Not all you 22.3 percent are voters. Many are not even registered to vote, Just another example of you sloppy analysis. And you say I live in a bubble and spew out really stupid remarks sometime. That sounds like projection.
Since we are way off the subject of the commentary, i will drop the mic on this until I write about Medicare — and then you can more appropriately respond with your uncompromised criticisms and insults. In the meantime … carry on,,
Tom … Your entire analysis is scrambled fruit salad — a mix of apples and oranges and other stuff. Or is it a scrambled brain?
You talk about the 74 million people on Medicare and Medicate and imply that they are all poverty people. Most people on Medicare can afford an advantage plan and more than half have one — just as a large percent of folks on Social Security would be financially comfortable without it. Personally, I think both should be means tested. I have proposed that in the past, Maybe time for a commentary on that subject.
Just for giggles, I checked out your source. Not surprised. You cherry pick information and then spin to your evergreen efforts to be my counterpoint in all things. You are either a terrible analyst or an intellectually dishonest one.
Larry, “You say you have a Cadillac health plan.” Is that some sort of back-handed passive-aggressive way of calling me a liar? Feels a bit rude to me.
My plan at work was most certainly Cadillac plan, I remember the taxes….. My current plan is close in features but given the tax code changes, not sure the original concept of Cadillac Plan still exists. Just features and prices, taxes have changed. I pay a fair amount in premium, less than my corporate Cadillac plan, and not much in doctor, hospital, tests, bills, and a bit, but far less than my corporate rate, for drugs. Seems like progress to me.
Yes, I am taking two of the drugs and while I have to look up the price since the charges are a really weird process which, like a deductible, drop off as the year progresses and turn into zero. Bottom line: I pay $250 a month compared to your $85, but I am taking a lot more drugs and even some prescription stuff most get OTC. Used to pay over $500 in my corporate days. I did check the prices when I do pay —- and you are right — darn it, my prices are already there. Biden/Harris might get me a bit better, but not enough to make significant difference. Damn, ruined my weekend, hope you are happier.
Back to our story: From Secure Medicare Solutions: “Some people even refer to Plan F as the “Cadillac” of Medicare Supplement plans. Over 40% of the Medicare-eligible beneficiaries who have a Medigap plan use Plan F. It pays everything that Medicare A & B do not cover at the doctor and hospital so that you do not have any out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare-covered services.” I am on Plan F with a Medigap Plan and Part D plan on top.
I did note your plan earlier and was impressed. I asked, but you did not deem to respond, what plan is it? Maybe you could help your readers? Generally, health insurance is like squeezing jelly in a tube in that you just move the hockey puck around the rink, but the same numbers apply in the end. If your rates are so much better than anyone else’s, I am pretty sure you suck pondwater in some other aspect of your plan. It’s a zero-sum game where the only winners are the providers. They push the Medicare Advantage because they bundle Medicare Parts A, B, and D, offer less features and flexibilities, they pass some of the savings to you, and they make more profit margin than ever. These are good for the relatively heathy that plan to stay that way. Let me guess: you need to be on-network to get the best price deal? That’s a favorite. Or it’s difficult if you get sick out of state? That’s one many find out the hard way. But tell us the insurance provider and plan; I would love to save money for better features. Chances are, for you, none of the shortcomings affect you so enjoy the great price.
You say, you pay $35 for insulin: you are lucky. I will detail that next, but you are wrong in saying Trump lowered insulin costs. And not by law. By EO. And not for all, just for a few. And he couldn’t get it implemented, Biden/Harris did that for him, and then did it right by making it law, and now expanding said law to ten more drugs.
You say you pay $85 per month for drugs. Good for you. You have no premiums. And you have no co pay on your primary, but $35 on specialists which I take it means, not primary. I find it hard to believe you are paying no premium, a pittance for drugs, and only specialist co-pays. Seems like you squeezed the jello in the tube and made it smaller.
Sounds to me like you have some sort of Medicare Advantage plan and generally — there is no free lunch. I am guessing you have restrictions somewhere that I don’t have and that’s OK for you. Like a network of doctors, inability to use out of state or region easily, these are some of the features Medicare Advantage often cuts.
Or think about it this way. There is Medicare and it pays for some things as do you. Suddenly Medicare Advantage says it will take over your account and not charge you anything; you will pay no more, you will pay less. That would be a first in life, eh? But I would love to be proved wrong and then I, and the rest of PBP readers can thank you forever and a day. So, thanks in advance.
Except at the beginning of the year when I am paying the drug deductible, I rarely see a bill. Premiums are automated, there is a bill for those. Nothing for specialists, nothing for tests, nothing for ER. If I get a bill downstream from Medicare and my Plan F supplier, I am in shock. A few years back, I spent a week in the hospital, in the President’s suite —- my room was about 20×40, kitchen, tv area, and meeting area, as designed for NJ’s corporate Mahogany row types. I had complete privacy, silence, and a world class bathroom. Too close to the heliport though, guess that’s how the big guys get in :😊 No charge for the week or the failed-hernia mesh computer surgery. No charge. If some specialist hit me for $35, I might faint. I go to ER at the drop of a hat, no charge, and can get so many tests, so fast, except for the basic ER type wait. Also, no network. I can go anywhere, in any state, and I think any country —– same deal.
But yes, I pay for Medicare, as do you, and I pay what they seem to think is a lot for the health and drug insurance overlays. I have a $240 Medicare deductible just like you, although it sounds like yours magically gets “eaten” by your “plan” which I figure is Medigap. But I come from corporate America, had a similar plan there, and for most of my decades there faced a 10% yearly increase. So, I supposedly pay a lot, but far less than before I took retirement and for the first two years could not understand why I was saving so much. But that plan was taxed as a Cadillac plan, my current plan is similar in features, so make of it what you will.
You are right though, even with two expensive drugs, I am already paying close, but a little more, than what Biden/Harris offer. But it is a Cadillac plan, or what they used to call Cadillac. And yes, I do SAY IT. (FYI: whose in the pool for Larry coughing up his plan or not……heh, heh)
Frank Stetson .. Based on what you say about your healthcare plan, it is a very good (Cadillac???) plan. Of course, that means you were bs’ing about how much you would personally save from what Biden/Harris announced. Sounds like it will have almost no impact on you personally. I do not see any saving for me either. And you are still wrong about that price structure you posted.
Fyi: meant medicare advantage, not medigap in that second to last paragraph. Pretty sure your on Medicare Advantage c
Frank, most likely Larry living in FL is enrolled in a Florida Health Care Plan Medicare, referred to as FHCP Medicare. These plans are unique to Florida. Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Florida Blue are the three most popular plans in FL. Also, if you’re age 65 and have contributed Medicare and Social Security payroll taxes for at least 10 years, your Part A plan has a no-cost premium.
Frank, because health care plans are priced regionally and also by state and county, I doubt that knowing Larry’s plan will be any help for you in NJ.
Here is a sample of what Larry can get from FHCP Medicare at *https://www.fhcpmedicare.com/medicare/* Notice the FHCP Pharmacies!!!
Feel the difference FHCP Medicare makes!
There are many reasons to turn to FHCP Medicare for your health care needs. When you choose us, you can expect more personalized, connected care that is centered around You! When you choose FHCP Medicare, you’re choosing an experienced company that has been providing quality health care and comprehensive coverage to our members since 1974. At FHCP Medicare, your doctors, specialists, pharmacies and labs all work together for you. It’s easy to get the care you deserve with FHCP Medicare.
Plus, get benefits like:
$0 plan premiums *
$0 urgent care at designated Extended Hours Care Centers (open 7 to 7 M-F & Saturdays)
$0 PCP & Specialist Virtual Visits
As low as $0 in-person Primary Care visits *
As low as $15 in-person Specialist visits *
All-inclusive health care facilities, providing greater convenience
Access to Florida Health Care Plans owned and operated pharmacies**
Unlimited visits to gyms and fitness centers in our Preferred Fitness Program included with all FHCP Medicare plans at no additional cost
Frank, if you look at the list of people living 150% above Federal Poverty level or less, (an indicator of poverty) which you can find at *https://www.kff.org/medicare/state-indicator/medicare-beneficiaries-by-fpl/?activeTab=map¤tTimeframe=0&selectedDistributions=under-100percent&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D * what is remarkable is that the majority percentages of the states with the highest level of people living at 150% or less of FPL are in GOP run states!!!!
So reducing drug costs could affect the way people will vote. That could be tens of millions of swayed voters but Larry does not think it is a big deal. I think he is misinformed.
Tom, it might be those plans you mentioned, I looked and one did have a $35 specialist copay along with a zillion other copays, the need to in in-network, only emergency care out-of-state or county. There are high out-of-pocket maximums that zero-out payments once achieved. Other plans had yearly maximum payment levels. But in-network demands is the big cost saver for these plans. The maximum payment levels too. One can see how this affects premium prices, or lack thereof.
For the most part, Medicare Advantage plans need to meet certain government standards and, as such, are standard across the land. However, providers can muck with the variables to provide plan differentiation and some pricing. Florida is one of the best states for finding lower prices. However, that generally comes with benefits fitting the price.
Generally, Medicare Advantage plans are cheaper and more comprehensive as long as you are relatively healthy. But if you need out-of-network care, special drugs, or hospitalization, they can get pricey. And the ones with maximum yearly caps can be deadly, financially, if you are unlucky.
My Medigap plan does have a premium but I have no in-network requirements, no maximum out of pocket, no copays for almost anything, 90-days free Hospital coverage, no referrals, no maximum per year payouts, no network, and discounts for many things included for free in the Florida plans — vision, dental, etc. My vision is done by a doctor, so it’s basically included in my plan except my doctor does some tests that do have a copay being outside of any Medicare plan — he’s very good, very thorough, and I have a severely damaged eye that needs the best it can get — I shouldn’t have it, but these guys performed a miracle. I wear safety glass now, for everything…..
I think our drug plans are similar, with the different tiers and such, but that’s such a quagmire to figure, that I just look at the bottom line. We both pay something for some drugs and generally the more boutique the drug, the higher the payment. The drugs Biden is lowering the prices on are boutique, as in new, not generic. And Larry is correct, my plan already is very close to those prices — but every little bit helps.
Bottom line: if Larry provides the plan, I can do a better assessment. But basically there is no free lunch and lower prices pretty much assures lower benefits and features. However, if you are relatively healthy, you can save money with Medicare Advantage. The payments only come in if you get sick at which point my plan is superior because your payments don’t go up the more you need to see more doctors and such.
Not even Trump can fix stupid. If the American people are stupid enough to vote for Kamala, then we deserve the destruction that she will bring.
Right now, Trump cannot even fix his own campaign! LOL Nor could he complete his Mexico wall. Nor could he fix ObamaCare (ACA) with something better like he touted!!! Trump is a loser that cannot fix anything.
Let her talk all these feeling good b/s. Let them sing a song and recite some poetry. These are facts, she has not produce one iota in the food supply, the illegal incursion, the destruction of San Francisco, the economy, and what is best for the USA. Next week, is the democratic convention. The truth will eventually come up, and they will eat crow. Believe me, when the red flag starts to wave, and all these commies start to talk the Marxist bull. They will eat crow. Americans know better than fall this trap set up by the leftist propaganda. We do have to be vigilant about the election or they will try another shenanigan like they did in 2020.
Larry, Love the projection in your bullshit post! ‘Democrats get in lockstep rather than risk losing’? Hmm, sounds to me like you ought to be talking about the ‘R’s’ (that’s pronounced ‘arse’ in case you didn’t realize😜). How many republicans have called Trump eminently unqualified’ but continue to support him? The only ones with conviction (and morals) who refuse to support the ass are deemed ‘RINOS’ and forced from the party (and office) by ignoramuses like yourself who chastise them for making the right decision-that your Emperor has no clothes (and no intellect either…)
Larry, the simple answer to the question in the article title is “No” because Trump cannot stop, nor restrain his ego and his narcissism. End of story.
Humility wins elections. Understanding the people’s concerns wins elections. Empathizing with people wins elections. Giving people hope wins elections. Trump scores poorly in these areas. Please plan a community breakfast for the day after election day because you will have plenty of egg on your face! LOL
PS Larry, sorry I will not be able to be there because I will be at the table with the cool multi-cultural people! Which table will you be at Larry? The haters and loathers? Or the cool people?!!!
Tom … You are not making any sense. What table? And you address something to me when when my last comment was WAY up the thread — and hand nothing to do with your response.
As far as the figurative “table” I have spend a life enjoying the company of an amazing variety of very interesting, intelligent and cool people of all backgrounds.. Every thing from mobsters to presidents … Noble Prize Winners…famous folks and average people of every background. If you insist on comparing “tables,” I think you would be humbled. Oh… sorry. You are incapable of being humble.
And finally, why such an oddball comment — germane to nothing?
In comparison to Larry and Frank I don’t down that many meds. Just 4 prescribed. one has a retail cost of$1,800 for 3 months. my cost is $185. The other three cost me $100 total for three months. Cost has remained constant over the past three years. I think Medicare is keeping up with my medical needs, for now. If Trump is elected and he can cut Medicare he will try and make good on the worst change he could do.
About Trump catching up with Harris” momentum, time will tell if momentum continues to build and carries her through Election Day. At the same time Trump is close to a tie in the poles. Donald needs to cleanup his strategy by shortening his speeches, focus on the future and some realistic planning, and he should drop his negative content and facial affect. He is boring his listeners with long winded speeches and repeating the same points at every rally. Doing as he has been will ensure that he will end up a has been. Without change November will be a wakeup call.
Larry, Trump for four more years is not my preference, as you well know. What his campaign must do to change strategy will not happen. Trump, he is who he is and does not take direction from others. Now, that sounds familiar in deed. You should empathize, you are the same stubborn personality.
Bless both your cotton picken hearts.
Larry, I am on Medicare and the cost of drugs is very important to me and those I know. I am surprised that you thought Trump lowered your insulin price. You should know that he lies. A lot.
Trump issued a stupid EO (isn’t that unconstitutional in your playbook?) to reduce your prices. The rule was voluntary by big pharma and Trump could not get it up to make it operational during his reign. I think only 50% of the suppliers complied which shows you the demand was not there because of the implementation the EO covered. Since the plan was not operational, Biden froze the EO for review, reviewed, and decided better than nothing so he operationalized it on his watch, on time or early for Trump’s plan that he could not operationalize. So it took Trump over four years, he did this weak-tea in an election year to cover his ObamaCare debacle, and it took another President to get it done and it did not do much. You got lucky.
The Trump EO requires that Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) — which serve only about one in 11 Americans, including homeless and vulnerable populations — offer the discounted price they receive when they purchase insulin and injectable epinephrine (EpiPens) through a federal program called 340B.
These centers already provide some free care and discount drugs for people living at less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, meaning $34,840 for a family of two. The EO expanded those discounts to FQHC patients with incomes up to 350 percent of poverty — $60,970 for a family of two. I guess you got lucky again, but certainly I would not apply.
Trump is correct that his administration enacted a program to lower insulin costs for some patients on Medicare. He is incorrect to state he authored a law to lower insulin costs. He wrote an EO, a bad on at that, and they couldn’t get it done in over six months. Oh yeah, and Trump’s EO was voluntary for suppliers.
In July 2020, Trump signed an executive order establishing the “Part D Senior Savings Model,” a temporary, voluntary program run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that let some Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cap monthly out-of-pocket insulin copay costs at $35 or less. It covered at least one insulin product of each dosage and type.
The program began Jan. 1, 2021, and ran through Dec. 31, 2023. In 2022, the Trump-era program included a total of 2,159 Medicare drug plans, and CMS estimated that more than 800,000 Medicare beneficiaries who use insulin could have benefited from it that year.
The Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that more than 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries paid more than $35 a month for insulin in 2020, before Trump’s program took effect. An analysis by the Rand Corp., a nonpartisan think tank, showed the program reduced participants’ out-of-pocket insulin costs by $198 to $441 per year on average, depending on their Medicare plan.
Let me guess: but Horist just loves the “policies.”
Now it’s law. Now it’s extended to ten more drugs, two I which I take so WOW. And more drugs will be added if you vote Harris because you like the policies as well as her character, personality, and dare I say it —- bring back the laugh!!! Laughter is infectious. I like to laugh.
But since we’re actually almost talking Larry —- how about those stone crab claws this year? Man, mine were great and The Florida Cracker for a mere $75 from Amazon was a real success. Might take me a decade to feel good about the cracker price, but soon as I try er out on Lobster claws I will feel better. Larry, your Miami stone crab sellers are just great examples of small business. These guys spent an hour helping me select and then how to use a cracker. And their crab claws were perfect every year. I just love that it’s sustainable catch, crabs are not killed during the catch and returned with one claw to grow a second one again. They don’t scream or even wince :>) OK, so it’s torture — better than being a beef cow….. Or chicken God forbid. Stone Crabs make Miami a very special place. IMO, much better than the Cuban Sandwich and those are out of this world too. Thanks folks. I may never eat Blue Fin again and I grew up on “all you can eat” for $9.99 Friday night food orgies.
Funny story on the Cuban sandwich. So, I am in Miami, don’t remember who I am talking to, or about, might have just been a trade show, but for some strange reason, I am cut away from the herd and staying in a strip motel, edge of town, seedy edge at that. I literally have a chair propped against the door. It’s 2 am, I have been working, haven’t had dinner and I see diner lights way down the block, other side. Looks like that Baltimore diner painting. I am starving, want to go, but everyone I see looks scary. I mean it’s 2 am…. I gird my loins and head out, scared shitless, I enter the diner. It’s full of cops. Latino cops who show me the way of the Cuban, we laugh, we talk, we eat a lot, and I went back to my hovel a very satisfied and happy man laughing at himself for his needless fears once again. Have to say though, can’t remember wtf I was doing there and why I got cut from the herd. And I never saw Miami, seemed that everything happened in one night, Not our normal style of booking. I also have never had another Cuban nor been back to Miami and I don’t know why. But I do know that stories like this are why I was glad to step out of that life. When you wake up, notice you are in an airports, but don’t know which one or why —– that’s too much travel. It’s nice not to always have your bag packed and ready.
Same thing —- the crab claw guys are as nice as the cops. Seems that my experiences in Miami included some very nice folks.
Frank Stetson …. I was paying $140 owe month for insulin prior to Trump. I have been paying $35 per month for years after he lowered the price –before Biden took office. I thought it strange that I was pay $35 per month all the time Biden was promising to lower it to $35 per month. You cannot give Trump any credit for anything he did that was good. I have occasionally challenged you and others to give me some examples of what you like that Trump did in office …. and crickets. Since I criticize Trump on his personality and on some issues — such as Ukraine and the Taliban deal — who is more objective? Thank you.
Mr. Horist. I gave Trump credit as credit is due for his failed EO that he could not implement so Biden/Harris did after pausing to review, with the pause STILL being within the Trump timetable. As noted, you are lucky to get the price, not many did and it was voluntary for suppliers. Biden/Harris made it law for all suppliers and all buyers. Why don’t you give them credit? But the Trump fake plan was detailed above. If you are objective about it, you must see it as half-baked at best and you being one of the few lucky ones.
Yes, I have applauded Trump on rare occasions, a number from you TOP-whatever list. Over time, I have also called out a few on the side as well. We have had this conversation before.
Both Tom and I requested the name of your plan so we could research, but also, I think you have some FL readers who might profit by your information. Or do you feel your plan is proprietary, personal, and top secret? I have Medicare, I believe F with AARP United Healthcare Medigap Plan with their pharma too, mail order is outsourced to Optum.
And yes, I agree that you are more objective in your own opinion. Makes sense to me.
Frank Stetson … No secret. I have a United Healthcare advantage on top of Medicare. Even though I got the benefit of the reduction in insulin, I am philosophically opposed to government price fixing — especially in competitive markets. BUT a case can be made the pharmaceutics are not a competitive markets — especially when one company owns patent rights on a unique drug. Free market capitalism requires competition. That is why I think Harris price controls on food is crazy, counterproductive and destructive. The problem with he left is that they do not distinguish monopolistic or oligopolistic situations and want to regulate economy overall — making corporations generically the enemy of workers. Harris is too close to Bernie Sanders on those issues.
Horist, thanks. Not sure why you once again you generalize the left. I am the left and in your broad brushing, you are 100% wrong describing me. As if you think you know my mind when you don’t —- remember that concept? FYI: yes I have a premier plan and premiums, but I pay less for seeing a healthcare expert and no one tells me who to see. However, since I pay so much less than when working, I figure I will look at that down the road IF I need to cut costs.
We both have UHC, you have Medicare Advantage version, I have Medigap version and I guarantee I have more benefits PLUS flexibility PLUS premiums, and you have PLUS higher payments when sick. I think I found your plan, using Miami beach zip code. I would say it’s a great plan if relatively healthy.
The math: these guys survive by “eating” your Medicare costs and payments and then offering you a package basically for $0 dollars to undercut their own Medigap plan that I have. When a company “eats their own” generally the gobbler has a higher profit margin, percentage wise. Simplicity and bundling is a great Medicare Advantage feature in the confusing world of Medigap policies. The Medicare Advantage was really established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which reduced payment rates to plans, established new risk-adjustment measures based on health status, and created an annual enrollment period. The BBA also authorized new private plan options, including preferred provider organizations (PPOs), provider-sponsored organizations, private fee-for-service plans, and high deductible health plans with medical savings accounts. Get the $$$ picture. Less bene’s, less cost, less price. Cause and effect. They save more, so they bundle up some other stuff like dental and vision and pay some savings to you to. And they beat up the network suppliers to make margin too.
The first secret is you really need to be in network in your plan. I have no network, I can go to any doctor, anywhere. You do have a national network, but I would check before any extended travel to see what facilities you would be forced to. That’s the 800lb gorilla in cost savings. I can go anywhere, any state, I think any country, and see any doctor for the same plan payments and copays.
Also, God forbid you end up in hospital, you ring up close to $1,500 for the first five days; I ring up zero.
You have specialist copay, I do not. But that’s the doctor section, you may have missed your other copays. The plan I looked at with the $35 specialist CP you noted outside of doctors has a $40 copay for urgent care, $135 for ER, $275 for ambulance, $280 for hospital outpatient, $15 xrays, $40 for other tests like ekg, $140 for MRI and more. And that’s the in-network stuff.
Not sure this is your exact plan, but it is the UHC Medicare Advantage Plan for Miami Beach with a $35 Specialist copay. The other copays are found waaaaaaaaay down the benefits summary under Medical Benefit Summary.
Larry, like I had initially said, it’s a great plan IF you are relatively healthy. I need a wide array of specialists, etc. My wife has MS. And I hate “the network.” Even worse the more rural you are. Plus living in a rural area (or at least people in NJ call it rural), I have found a strange phenomenon that the best doctors, the one who can face the lawsuits of the rich are way East of me. And the doctors looking for that country-quality of life medical experience are West of me, with me caught in the vacuum of talent in between. IE—a lot of the docs in my neighborhood suck IMO.
I pay more in premiums and my plan offers more in lower copays and features. With a reason. My path is set, but you could be in flux. IOW — IF you get sick, you want my plan. And to change from Medicare Advantage to Medigap can be tricky given time windows and other red tape. Chances are you could shift to UHC Medigap if you see an expensive recurring illness, disease coming. UHC like mine is great and pretty seamless shift for you IF and WHEN the time comes. Hopefully never. But know the deal before you go into the hospital or out-of-network for numerous visits. If your health holds steady, good choice and stay the course, IMO. But if your health forces a change to save $$$, please know the process before you get too sick to learn it.
Bottom line: there’s no free lunch and generally a reason for different prices and performance in the health insurance racket. Once my wife and I fell into an insurance gap for 5 months. Two on cobra, one together, and then just me as she went back to work and I retired. It was the worst analysis I have ever done and there’s only a few plans in NJ….. Freakin UHC plan cost $60K, like $30K more than other plans as if UHC had a need to say they sell in NJ, but they didn’t want to sell any in NJ. Weird. That bottom line was there were differences like this assessment, but you could usually compare price to performance and then the trick was to pick the best fit for your health status. You picked right your yours, as did I. But there are reasons, and they make dollars and sense.
I will do my healthcare market rant later, not a screed, but a rant in that this is one broken market, if you can even call it a market.
FYI: all of this is outside the $35 insulin prices where, frankly, you seem to have gotten lucky in that most folks needing it DID NOT benefit from Trump’s plan that had to be implemented by Biden/Harris. Now, under Biden/Harris who replaced the Trump EO with law, all Americans get the $35 price.
Frank Stetson … You always give me a good laugh. Your object to my “reading your mind.” LMAO This from the guy who has obsessively and consistently created a mythical Larry Horist as your straw man and foil — claiming to know my mind…my motives… my opinions … and you even make up statements I never said. You imaginary playmate is not like me in any way, but you persist to operate from malignant ignorance. And now you engage in projection. LOL
You ignorance is also not limited to me. You have described my health plan from ignorance. You are telling me what my plan provides for. And you wrong AGAIN. First of all, there many different United Healthcare plans. Some you get from an open market and some are negotiated plans by employers
The various charges you mention are unrelated to my charges — which are generally much less non-existent in my plan. Not sure why you would apply them to what you thinks is my plan. Also, i have no network requirements. I can chose any doctor at any time without even a referral.
Actually, my family had no health insurance during a hard time, so we went to a free clinic. Got super service at zero cost. All diagnostic tests … no cost. No cost for any medications, including insulin. They dispensed all the drugs and things like test strips and needles at the clinic for free– and they were overly generous with them. In terms of health coverage, I was sorry when better financial circumstances put me on a regular health plan. The left equate no health insurance with no health coverage That is not always true — although it could depend on where one lives.
Anyway… enough of this issue on this old thread. Feel free to misinform as you please. It is your right to be wrong.
Larry, I think you would pick a fight in a candy factory. Obsessive, make up statements, malignant ignorance, you just must demean by name calling to just lower yourself instead. I am only interested in the truth here and you seem to just want to pick a fight. I looked, I noted your choice was correct, for you, and I provided potential advice on what to look out for as you move forward. I used a UH Medicare Ad plan for Miami zip code with a $35 specialist fee. If you can be more precise, then I can be. If precision and accuracy are your intent. I like you realize the fallacy of the “in your mind” tactic you deploy. It’s wrong when directed towards you, I guess. Again, you lead wit generalities, no specifics to your whine.
And I am sorry you fell to needing health welfare, but happy you found the helpin hand.
The rest is just bullshit. These are just numbers. Provide the exact plan and I will fine tune the analysis, but based on this preliminary one, if you can’t see where this is heading, you really miss the 30K foot view. You pay less for less. I pay more for more. Your plan is fantastic for the relatively healthy, my plan is better if you need doctors and meds. Most important: the caveats I provided as to your potential future costs —- please pay heed. There is no loss to preparation, and much to lose if you are surprised at costs IF your health turns. hopefully, it will never happen.
But don’t believe me, you can see the same assessment of the differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Medigap plans by experts across the web. I did not invent what I said. I learned it from them. As to your free clinic experience, oh my, that you even needed it. But you know there is no free in this world. Someone always carries the burden. Was that your cry for Universal healthcare ala Bernie?
Certainly, a rant follows….
HealthCare market is an oxymoron on many levels. Not a market, don’t care about health. It is so bad that I say implement Bernie’s plan for universal healthcare and kill the market for the sake of humanity. We have the best specialist care, meh everyday care, and we pay more than any country for meh. We need insurance just to get a better price, like hiring the mob for protection.
Pricing in this market is not transparent, not even opaque. We would force transparency by law in any other market actin like this.
There is no way the healthcare market will even play by free market rules and dynamics. It’s a broken market because it can never be a market. It does not fit the market model. It is unique and stands alone outside of normal market economic drivers. There is a fractured supply and demand model in healthcare; when sick, you seek the closet and fastest immediate care. You don’t price-comparison shop like other markets. You only shop for optional procedures. That means you don’t choose most medical procedures by price and price is not driven by consumer choice. A weird perversion of the monopoly model.
In no other market do we see a pricing model like this. For an ear test and wax removal, the charge is $600 but Medicare price fixes the charge down to $100, covers $80, my Medigap covers $20 and I pay zero. Can you imagine an auto market where the price is $180,000 but you are charged $30,000 because the government fixed the price?
But wait, there’s more —- IF you don’t have Medicare or insurance, you are charged the $600 which anyone can dicker down — trust me. But never to the Medicare level. If you can’t pay, you are covered, the hospital writes it off because my insurance basically foots the bill. Or you frequent te free, not free, clinic. Now the high price makes sense, free money to the provider for anyone without insurance but often really paid by the insured while the entire price is inflated to levels that would be a lawsuit in most markets.
But wait, there’s even more —- If you work, you often get insurance as part of your benefits but you still have to pay for it, more than I pay for mine, but I pay zero for bills, but, if working, you will pay copays, deductibles — at a similar price where I pay nothing. Now your salary is lower, since no benefits are really free, you company/insurance is lobbying price like Medicare for me, but you do worse and pay more. And the taxpayer assists companies to offer these benefits. Its convoluted for sure.
So, three price levels: full bore which may be 6 times what discounted price is. Better yet, this price is often not paid and borne on the backs of the insured as prices are raised to cover the loss.
Second level for the working where you still pay something, usually less than 20% of the discounted price via co pays, out of pockets, and just not fully covered by benefits that are funded by taxpayers via corporate tax breaks.
Third level with Medicare and optional Advantage or Gap plans were often, nothing is paid.
Imagine the price of a tomato at $6 but you can dicker to $3 or if you have insurance at work, you pay $2, or if you have vegicare government insurance it’s $1 or if you put private insurance on top, $0.. Imagine a world where the poor pay $6, working people pay $2 cents and the retired get tomatoes for free. How long would it take the poor to burn the tomato stand down? How long would we allow that market to function like that?
And all of that is on top of the weirdness that is the pharmaceutical market with it’s perverted free-market, not, model.
Money makes the monkey dance is the organ grinder’s tale. In the healthcare market, the pricing model is broken, the supply/demand curve is broken, price-shopping for alternatives is often impossible, the market is broken. It is so broken that the government fixes prices and we have to hire the insurance mob for price protection. This is not even close to a free market driven by supply/demand which evidences its breakage in the pricing model.
Nope, I say burn it all down. I am a free market extremist ala old style Republican, and I say burn it all down. For monopolistic utilities where it makes sense to have only one, we regulate. I say screw it, we tried, we failed in medical markets. Insurance is a mafia model. Medicare is Universal coverage which does not cover anymore so we hire the insurance mafia once more. ObamaCare is a band aid covering an open wound that will never heal. Screw it, let’s have universal healthcare, no networks, use any doctor, and be done with this madness. Just like most developed nations outside of our little fishbowl.
Finally, oh my Larry, you really need to fight about this? Check that bull crap at the door.
On the topic of healthcare, and the top healthcare issue for this year is women’s health, and that means reproductive services, the DNCovention pretty much shows how important this is to a majority of Americans. And the more we learn about the Republican plan, the potential to get more restrictive in areas of IVR and contraception, the chance to go national under Project 2025, the horrors of the Republican continue to come to light.
Every once in a while, Texas and Florida choose to stand out from other States. Lately, not for good reasons for the community. Often their leaders seem to just demand attention with the weird acts they perform. They stage events for publicity at the cost of the people being “evented.” Abortion is one place Florida and Texas excel at making news on the backs of their citizens. In Texas, they basically put a bounty on the pregnant desiring to not be so. There are some unintended but easily foreseeable outcomes. In both states, there’s a ever-changing legal landscape making many doctors fearful of any women’s pregnancy issues to avoid being arrested, sent to jail, ruining career, just for caring for a woman in need. Recently, a number of the Republican horrors are coming to light in the way of legal cases. But the human case tells a much more horrible story of Republicans run amuck.
First, to get an abortion, you need to leave the State. Even if you apply within the restrictions, the chance of doctors scared to proceed if there are any issues is real. They balk on handling women’s issues correctly much more after the bans. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get farther than Florida and Texas, in mind, body, and distance, to get a legal, warranted, compassionate and safe abortion.
“Bleeding and in pain, Kyleigh Thurman didn’t know her doomed pregnancy could kill her. Emergency room doctors at Ascension Seton Williamson in Texas handed her a pamphlet on miscarriage and told her to “let nature take its course” before discharging her without treatment for her ectopic pregnancy. When the 25-year-old returned three days later, still bleeding, doctors finally agreed to give her an injection to end the pregnancy. It was too late. The fertilized egg growing on Thurman’s fallopian tube ruptured it, destroying part of her reproductive system.” AP.
The issue is in Texas, doctors are facing a 99-year jail term IF they transgress on abortion laws and even though Federal Law, as passed by Biden/Harris, protects us by providing access for heath — these are the choices made in Texas by Texans to control other Texans.
Two women — one in Florida and one in Texas — were left to miscarry in public restrooms. In Arkansas, a woman went into septic shock and her fetus died after an emergency room sent her home. My father’s first wife died that way in the dark ages before Roe v. Wade. A single child, war bride who had not lived with Dad more than a few months before he went to France, he learned about it in the hospital recovering from his wounds. The father became a drunk, divorced, and died by smoking while drinking as in passing out. Mom took some pills a year later. This shit is bad.
Four other women with ectopic pregnancies had troubles accessing treatment. One in California needed a blood transfusion after sitting in the ER waiting room for over nine hours. In Florida, a 15-week pregnant woman leaked amniotic fluid for an hour in Broward Health Coral Springs’ emergency waiting room. Ultrasound revealed no amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus which is a dangerous situation for serious infection. The woman miscarried in a public bathroom that day, after the emergency room doctor listed her condition as “improved” and discharged her, without consulting the hospital’s OB-GYN. Emergency crews rushed her to another hospital, where she was placed on a ventilator and discharged after six days of intensive care. These are just a handful of the stories coming from over half the nation as Republican ban repercussions, add nothing for additional support to the women suffering the bans, and criminalize women’s health.
Abortion is on the ballot in Florida this year. Floridians can vote their hearts and I am pretty sure the ban will be overturned. It won’t make Texas, there the legislature much put it on the ballot and with those Republicans, the people of Texas will NEVER get the chance to do what the SCOTUS expected. The SCOTUS decision failed in Texas and all they did was take it from the Congress and put it in the hands of Texas Republican State Legislators — it’s not the people in Texas.
So far, Pro Choice has won in 8 out of 8 State referendums on women’s health. Ohio rejected the block on a state Constitutional amendment. California, Vermont and Michigan enshrined the rights. Kansas and Ohio voted down State Constitution language outlawing abortions.
Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota added an abortion measure to the November ballot. Many say abortion is not a voter priority, but I imagine that it will not only bring voters to the poll, but will affect the top of the ticket once they get there. Some of these are swing States and abortion may be the weight that tips the scale for women’s rights and against the Trump Presidency that caused the issue.
Pro Choice has not only won in all eight cases, eight states but Republicans paid the price at the polls in those races as well. Be careful what you ask for when you dare to ask the people what they think.
Good luck Florida. Sorry Texas. And for you other states, get it on the ballot. We can still win this thing and put women’s health in the hands of women and doctors and out of the politicians.