If congress passes the legislation setting up a government run health care company, it would have to become the largest health insurer in the world.  So how big is that?  Well, if you look at the largest health insurance companies you can get an idea.  The new insurance company would have to hire thousands of people. It would need underwriters, a medical department, computer operators, claims adjusters, customer service people (well maybe not that one), and everyone from executives to  janitors. 

The largest health insurance company in the US is United HealthCare.  They have 70,000 employees and they insure less than 10% of the population. The Government health insurance company would be much larger –some analysts insist that by the 5th year they would insure over 25% of the population.

Some would argue that this bureaucracy already exists in Medicare and it could be combined or cloned. I doubt if that would ever happen. Have you even known government to not set up a new bureaucracy when they had a chance. But even if they combined everything into medicare they would still have to hire 40-50,000 new employees just to manage the sheer size of the task. Could it eventually grow to 100,000 employees? Probably.

The final health care bill is far from decided but it is interesting to note how some of the current bills being debated will affect seniors.  First of all our Medicare coverage will be severely impacted.  The agreement with the AMA to cut Medicare reimbursements by 20% will have the most immediate effect.  Now hospitals claim they will give seniors the same service for 20% less money if the government puts everyone in the country on health care.  I am not sure I believe that. There is no way that the quantity and quality of care seniors get will stay the same with a 20% spending cut.  And that provision is already decided and will be in any final bill.

Mandatory End-of Life Counseling for Seniors

Did you hear about mandatory counseling for seniors?  Both the House and Senate versions of the bill have a provision whereby seniors would receive mandatory “end-of-life” counseling every 5 years –and more often if you have a serious illness. The bills don’t spell out what the counseling will consist of. That is left to the health care administration to decide. 

This bill will be bad for seniors in many more ways. It will lead to rationing –a bureaucrat deciding if you get an operation or an expensive medication.  So far the AARP is silent. And seniors, who are usually vocal, are not standing up this time.  If you are a member you should call, write or email the AARP and tell them how you feel. If you are not –or even if you are, then email your congressman and senator.  Here are the links to contact them:

Contact your Senator: http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/How_to_contact_senators.htm

Contact Congressman: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

However you feel –if you support the bill, or if you don’t, you should let them know now.

If you are not familiar with ClickBank, then you should be. ClickBank is a great resource for purchasing “how-to” information on thousands of topics and a great way to earn extra money by recommending their products. But you want to be careful. Unfortunately there are a lot of people selling what I would call “Online Junk.”  Like any online marketplace, you want to be careful. Personally I will not recommend a ClickBank product unless I buy it first and make sure the seller is delivering good value for the money.  If it is a money-making program of any kind, then I try it first to make sure it works.

Last week I got a call from a friend who had tried a program called The ClickBank Code. He was raving about how complete it was and how easy it was to follow.  So I bought one for myself and tried it.  I have been making money for the past 7 years recommending ClickBank products and I can say without a doubt that the ClickBank Code works. It is easy to understand and follow –and most importantly –it is complete.  The author tells you everything you need to know. 

This is a very step-by-step program that anyone with only minimal computer skills can follow. This is a perfect program for anyone who needs to make a little extra money. If you follow the steps you should get your first check from ClickBank within 2-3 weeks of starting.  I hope you give it a try.  Oh yes –If you are not happy, it comes with a money-back guarantee.

I don’t often post articles that  are essentially advertisements in my blog, but I am making an exception this time to tell you about a service I am really excited about.  This is not for everyone. But if you actively trade stocks (not your retirement funds I hope), then you really want to look at this service.

The past year has been painful for us Geezers. Many of us have taken significant losses in our IRAs and 401(k)s. The warnings were out there. I subscribe to almost a dozen financial newsletters and several of them warned of the collapse in markets, the dollar and stock prices.

I was a little late getting out, but I  finally heeded the advice of some respected advisors and got out before the worst of the decline. One of the services I respect the most comes from Martin Weiss and Weiss Research. Martin Weiss is a respected financial newsletter author and I subscribe to several of his services.

I am very careful what I recommend to my readers, but I have no hesitancy recommending services from Weiss Research. I have never gone wrong with these folks.

The one I am the most excited about now is a new timing service based on cycle research from The Foundation for the Study of Cycles. Cycles are powerful indicators and trading tools, yet they remain shrouded in mystery and a challenge to the ordinary investor. What if you could answer the age old question: “How can an investor more accurately predict major turning points in advance – and by so doing, profit from them?”

This is what the Foundation is all about. And they have an impressive record:

The Foundation also has an impressive record of accurately forecasting key turning points in other markets – including …

• The huge run-up in precious metals of the 1970s, when gold surged 490% and silver catapulted 255% higher …
• The 1980 record highs in gold and silver and their subsequent 20-year bear markets that saw them give up as much as 90% of their gains …
• The explosion in oil prices that began at just $13 per barrel in 1999 and drove, oil to $147 in 2007. And then, the bursting of the oil bubble that saw oil prices shed more than 75% in the subsequent five months …
• The historic peak in the U.S. dollar in 2001 – and the deep decline that followed …
• The explosion in interest rates before September of 1981 – and the dramatic decline that ensued …
• The beginning of a bull market in gold in 2003, just before gold prices more than tripled.

And it’s not just about market moves like those – you get specific stock recommendations as well.

Click here to learn more about The Foundation Alliance or call toll-free 1-800-351-4764 (overseas, dial +1-561-627-3300) and please let them know you are calling from the Geezer Guide.

No one can guarantee profits or against losses, but you must agree that The Foundation Alliance is helping you to achieve consistent, reliable profits … or you may cancel at any time within 90 days for a full refund of your membership fee. And even later – in the unlikely event that you decide that The Foundation Alliance isn’t for you – you can cancel at any time for a refund on the unused portion of your membership.

Here is a great article from The Boston Globe online paper. It talks about inventive ways that cash-strapped seniors are using to remain in their homes during tough times.

Overseas boondoggle trips (called fact finding missions) by congressmen and senators have expanded to the highest level in history.  While we are being asked to tighten our belts, an arrogant congress is out of control. They are not just spending money on pet projects -they are spending it on themselves.

According to The Wall Street Journal, hundreds of lawmakers (and their spouses and entourages) traveled overseas last year at a record taxpayer cost of $13 million. And that doesn’t include off-budget costs like spending in war zones or borrowing government planes to jet set abroad.

Congressional Travel Spending

Some of last year’s most diplomatically vital trips include: Five representatives checked out the Galapagos Islands to “learn about global warming.” Six senators attended the Paris Air Show. Eight lawmakers enjoyed a delightful eight-day Italian excursion. And perhaps taking the cake, the House Homeland Security Committee’s jaunt to Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Panama… pertaining to the defense of U.S. borders, we must assume.

While the official numbers aren’t out yet, the WSJ claims expenses this year appear just as outrageous. There are over 20 government employees whose sole job function is to plan congressional outings.  And no one is flying in the back of the plane.  Overseas trips are on government owned executive jets or when they fly commercial they are in First Class -for “security” reasons of course.

When times are tough –the tough save money.  This is a great topic that is on the minds of everyone today. As the government tries to get out of debt by borrowing and spending more money, the rest of us are looking for ways to cut our expenses, pay off our debts and save more.

It seems to be working for us –but not the government. The savings rate of US households increased to a 30-year high of 6.7% and total consumer debt fell for the first time in 22 years. Meanwhile, government debt balloned by 120% and spending this year will increase by nearly 40%.

If you Google the term “money saving tips” you will get several pages of results. Many of the tips are excellent and many are downright dopey. But  very few of them relate to use Geezers.  So, keeping our readership in mind, post a reply in 100 wrods or less, with your best money saving tips for seniors.  I will pick the best tips and put them in a blog post. If we get enough, I will compile them into a free eBook you can download.  And, I will pick the best tip.  That person will get their choice of any Official Geezer Guide publication.

Feel free to sign your tip with your website, blog or eBay URL. But remember, 100 words or less and the tips must relate to our readers.

Happy Independence Day and I hope all of our readers get to enjoy some quality time with friends and family this weekend.