‘Death Panels’ Hypocrisy: RNC Health Insurance Provider Promotes End-Of-Life Counseling
‘Death Panels’ Hypocrisy: RNC Health Insurance Provider Promotes End-Of-Life Counseling
Over the summer, one of the GOP’s loudest complaints against health care legislation was a provision offering senior citizens Medicare reimbursement for end-of-life counseling. Republicans claimed it would create so-called “death panels” or urge seniors citizens to die. RNC Chairman Michael Steele “endorsed this type of rhetoric, and on July 28, the RNC put out research document claiming that the government would “dictate” Americans’ “end-of-life care.”
But ThinkProgress has noticed that Cigna, the RNC’s health insurance provider, also urges beneficiaries to think about end-of-life services. Cigna’s website has a page called “Care at the End of Life,” which covers topics such as how to talk with “loved ones” about “end-of-life choices” and whether to stop life-prolonging treatment:
It’s unclear whether the RNC’s insurance plan covers these end-of-life consultations, and neither Cigna nor the RNC replied to inquiries from ThinkProgress. But nevertheless, the RNC’s insurance provider has posted information on its website advising beneficiaries about the complicated questions that accompany decisions at the end of someone’s life.
There is nothing objectionable about this planning, which has been endorsed by Democrats, Republicans like Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and the AARP. But this type of advice is exactly what the GOP fear-mongered about this summer. As FactCheck.org explained:
What the bill actually provides for is voluntary Medicare-funded end-of-life counseling. In other words, if seniors choose to make advance decisions about the type of care and treatments they wish to receive at the end of their lives, Medicare will pay for them to sit down with their doctor and discuss their preferences. There is no requirement to attend regular sessions, and there is absolutely no provision encouraging euthanasia.
Recently, the RNC has been urging lawmakers to support the anti-choice Stupak amendment, which would not only ban women on the federal exchange from using federal funds for abortion, but could bar employer-sponsored plans from offering the coverage. However, Politico reported this week that the RNC health care plan under Cigna has coverage for elective abortion services. Upon hearing the news, the RNC quickly opted-out of the abortion coverage, although its money is still indirectly subsidizing other women’s abortions.
If end-of-life counseling is so scary, will the RNC also call up Cigna and object? Or will it admit that there’s nothing wrong with these services and all the protests this summer were nothing more than political posturing?
(HT: TP reader Jason S.)
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End of life counseling is something that is important. The repugs make it out to be death counseling. If their base chooses to believe their crap then let em. Their base will believe all the crap that comes out of their mouths anyway. Screw em.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:25 amWhat an embarrassing realization it must be for the RNC and its donors. Their heads live in an imaginary world but their bodies are governed by reality. No wonder they all seem to be psychotic and schizophrenic.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:29 amI’m not sure that hypocracy is a charge that stings for Republicans. They don’t seem to feel the shame of it. When you are convinced that you are right and all the rest of the world is wrong, you care nothing for consistency. You were right then; you are right now. There need be no logic to it.
Also, by desensitizing themselves from the sting of hypocracy, they are freed to scorn it in us. This gives them a huge tactical advantage. Now, only we must maintain a consistent viewpoint and only we are subject to a charge of flip-flopping.
I think we do better to point out that they are WRONG. They don’t seem to mind being utterly hypocritical.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:29 amUmmmm, I think that I’ll go with nothing more than political posturing.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:38 amNot that the RNC would release this type of information but it would be interesting to know how many of their employees voluntarily went in front of one of their insured ‘death panels.’
November 14th, 2009 at 9:42 amWill these lies, will these histrionics never end?
God damn these idiots, playing with the lives of their fellow Americans.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:45 amtom sed:
“What an embarrassing realization it must be for the RNC and its donors. Their heads live in an imaginary world but their bodies are governed by reality. No wonder they all seem to be psychotic and schizophrenic.”
They just don’t care. Not any more.
They’re acting just like George W. Bush taught them to act, in his own words and actions: A spoiled brat stomping its little foot and throwing a tantrum.
Well…it worked for Bush, for eight long years.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:48 amYou know, if enough of these contradictions and inconsistencies are found in the RNC health plan, we can get Steely Mike to winnow it down to the point where it doesn’t cover anything. That’s when Republican empathy for most of the rest of America will start to take hold, or thieir medical conditions will start winnowing down their numbers.
Either outcome could be of benefit to the Republic.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:06 amYes, Daddy-O, I do think it did work politically. I hope that it only work very temporarily, though. I believe it only worked because they were able to capitalize on fear. Fear and greed have been their only tools, and I hope they overplayed them.
Luckly, fear is not a comfortable feeling and it creates a backlash; after a period of fear, people long for peace and calm.
Similarly, greed has led to disaster and collapse, not the perfect capitalistic society they touted.
If we can promote peace and stability to restore calm and demonstrate the benefits of competence over greed, the Republican party will fade into dust. They’ve shown they have no other weapons in their arsenal – nothing else to offer, and a declining appreciation for what they have to sell.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:06 amMan, first the RNC get called on for providing care for abortions, so they cancel that beni, now they’re getting called for end of life counseling, so they’ll cancel that. It’s enough to make a GOP worker consider working for the DNC.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:07 amRecently, the RNC has been urging lawmakers to support the anti-choice Stupak amendment, which would not only ban women on the federal exchange from using federal funds for abortion, but could bar employer-sponsored plans from offering the coverage.
Thank you Amanda, for using the term anti-choice.
At the very least they need to drop the barring of employer-sponsored plans from offering the coverage. If an employee doesn’t want a plan that does offer the coverage they should pick a different plan.
As far as end-of-life counseling – DUH! Of course it’s a good thing, as anyone who has had to go through that difficult situation knows. Those decisions are not easy and any help given is very civilized and is often very much needed by the patient and the family.
If the Republicans claim, “Oh mercy me, we had no idea our coverage included that!” and force Cigna to change it, well that would just be one more instance in which they chose political expediency over common sense.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:11 amThere have been several prominent talking points pushed by republicans over the last year and a half that demonstrated quite clearly that they’ve got nothing in the tank. They are bankrupt of ideas and unsteadily cruising on whatever momentum they can gather from simply opposing whatever the Democrats propose.
“Death panels” is, to me, one of the more glaring examples of this sad phenomenon.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:11 amThe GOP base and the MSM who wasted time screeching about “Death Panels” are retards.
If you talk elderly people, you’ll find that most would prefer to have some “end-of-life” plans in place before they get sick. Most don’t want to live in a vegatative state or get an extra 2 weeks in pain if they have a terminal illness. It’s more likely that their kids are the ones pushing for extraordinary treatments.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:12 amThe GOP needs end of life counseling then, pull the plug on the beast.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:13 amWhat it boils down to is that the rest of America isn’t worthy of the coverage that the RNC gets.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:17 amI wonder how many of those 322 VT and NH cancer patients worked for the RNC…
November 14th, 2009 at 10:24 amLike a dagger to my heart…..Jesus you are lame….
November 14th, 2009 at 10:27 amEverything about the repiggies is hypocritical.
That party is utter lying garbage.
The majority of citizens want health care reform, and they want the Public Option, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Why can’t the repiggies just STFU?
They have contributed nothing but lies to the discourse on this important issue.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:32 amAin’t that a b i t c h the morons didn’t realize that they had this coverage, because they always jump to conclusions before they read the facts. This is just about as funny as when they realized that their insurance covered abortions too. What will they find out next that their insurance carrier is in favor of health care reform and they currently have a public option available?
November 14th, 2009 at 10:38 amNice catch, Jason S!
Let’s hear the hypocrites defend this one too.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:50 amMary Lacewing
November 14th, 2009 at 10:53 amI agree entirely.
They label themselves as pro-life, which implies that their opponents are anti-life.
The truth is they are anti-choice and their opponents are pro-choice.
Abortion is the law of the land – a woman’s civil rights issue – but repugs don’t hold women in high esteem (except when they are useful), so under the guise of “protecting” them or the embryo, or whatever the cause-du-jour, the conservatives want all control, power and authority to themselves.
CParis
says:It’s more likely that their kids are the ones pushing for extraordinary treatments.
I believe that’s true. If their parents had not had conversations with them, if their health care providers do not have proper signed authority from the patient, horrible end of life scenes ensue.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:58 amMaking sure your children know of your desires – and then signing the proper paperwork – is essential. Persons who don’t have close relatives also need to do this.
Many people don’t understand, they think it costs money to do this, they need information: counseling.
If they drop EOLC coverage Cigna should actally raise their rates since this preventative measure would have actually saved money in the long term. Perhaps when they see this in $$$ terms it will start to make sense to them.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:58 amstalling health care reform might just backfire on the republics.
When all of thier lies meet the light of day, they may wish they had not brought up some of these outrageous distortions.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:59 amOMG, these people are just plain STOOPIT.
I think these retarded Repukes believe that they only have TODAY.
In other words, everything they’ve ever said in the past second/minute/hour/year simply vanishes down the Memory Hole™ the second it falls from their flappy lips – and it’s just …gone – therefore, it doesn’t exist.
That would explain a lot about why they don’t seem to have any sense of shame about their ridiculous hypocrisies!!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:00 amI would love to see a list of the repiggie congress critters who are using their own “socialized medicine” for anything from face lifts to tummy tucks.
Those a-holes are getting their spouses and families in for every little thing, and we get soaked for it.
I want the same policy those clowns have.
Otherwise, it’s way past time to shut that program down.
Most of those a-holes are millionaires anyway.
Let them pay for their own procedures, or let them pay the exorbitant insurance rates the rest of us have to pay.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:01 amWonder if this news will get out to those who believe all the garbage and lies that have been fed to them? How do we do that?
November 14th, 2009 at 11:11 amHey everybody, look at me!
—
November 14th, 2009 at 11:12 amOkay, now what?
I could barely count to three months before the pregnant trolls in my department suddenly walk in not-so-pregnant.
At any rate, I expect the republicans in congress to introduce a bill quashing this expose.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:18 amI think we’re supposed to praise him for getting dressed all by himself. Don’t tell him that his shoes are on the wrong feet.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:18 amBoy, you picked one of the most irrational trolls to imulate.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:22 amHWAS,
Yes! That’s right! And those free health clinics Adolph intended for those 6 million jews mysteriously turned into gas chambers.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:23 amHWAS, oh you shutup woman. You’re not going to ruin this for me.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:24 am# 27–reported for abuse.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:28 amThat “procedure” you were scheduled for next week? You’ll have to pay for it out of your own pocket now. Oh, and by the way, your premiums won’t be lowered to reflect the reduction in coverage. Thanks for being Republican.
Neither. They will quickly discontinue the benefit, claim it was a mistake to begin with and fire a low-level staffer for making the “mistake.”
November 14th, 2009 at 11:35 amYou would think that at least one of the TBAARWW are going to protest CIGNA. No?
November 14th, 2009 at 11:37 amWhy do some Republicans hate Jesus?
November 14th, 2009 at 11:41 amBecause Jesus was a socialist.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:45 amYou rang?
—
November 14th, 2009 at 11:54 amI am curious about attention seekers but this is going too far…
evangenital @ 26,
The Republican Party is the party of “American Exceptionalism” (just ask Linbaugh). Because we a dealing with exceptional people we have to understand they belong to an exclusive class. This class of people deserves and expects to be held to a different value set than the rest of us
(K street come to mind).
With this situation, the Republicans are above reproach. They owe no one an explanation for actions or words, and they are exempt from assuming ownership of the problems they have created. They are the annointed ones.
The Republicans are a class unto themselves, the country owes them, we owe them!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:54 amAw, c’mon, Ralphie – get it right: Jesus was a COMMUNIST.
(snicker)
November 14th, 2009 at 11:56 amI wonder how many repugs wives/daughters took advantage of having their insurance pay for an abortion.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:57 amWhy not speak up vote down baby? Can’t handle it?
November 14th, 2009 at 12:00 pmHitler, you’re going to have to do better than that. This is a weekend and the trolls have off from their home schooling. They compete quite strongly here when they are not studying for their G.E.D.’s
November 14th, 2009 at 12:01 pmThe Bushes will BURN for ETERNITY with their good buddy, Hitler.
And Saddam Hussein.
And Osama bin Laden.
And Ronald Reagan, the TRAITOR.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pmWhy not speak up vote down baby? Can’t handle it?
November 14th, 2009 at 12:00 pm Vote Up | Vote Down | (-1)
November 14th, 2009 at 12:06 pm—–
Can I take that as I yes that you are too weak and inferior to actually stand up and discuss your attitudes toward this topic and how they may differ from those of the people you vote down? Can I also inquire as to what it is like to be so helpless and frightened?
thanks…
Maybe Cigna should be providing some end-of-party counseling for the Republicants, the Party of No. They are going the way of the extinct Whig Party, sometimes called the Know-nothing Party…
November 14th, 2009 at 12:10 pmVote Down Baby:
November 14th, 2009 at 12:10 pmFor real and with all joking aside, why do you bother? You know that those votes will vanish momentarily. What is the point? Why not use words to make your opinions known? You never know, maybe you will sway minds….
funny isn’t it dbadass, the only blog on the web where you can say almost anything and not get banned and yet they are too afraid to speak up.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:10 pmAre you just trying to deny your little sister access to the computer and WebKins World? Come on don’t be such a sissy. Tell me your thoughts as to RNC hypocrisy….
November 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pmJust one left Vote Down Baby. What will you do?
November 14th, 2009 at 12:24 pmOops too late… See what I mean? It is like you were never even here. Insignificance is a lonely feeling isn’t it?….
November 14th, 2009 at 12:25 pmHey dbadass, I enjoyed turning your -1 to a zero. Will these trolls ever learn.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:27 pmsscncturn64:
November 14th, 2009 at 12:32 pmI just don’t get it. I am more than willing to discuss with them their ideas in a polite and respectful manner. What is it that they fear so?
I think you answered your own question, my friend.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:36 pmI wonder if they cover sex change operations too! Larry Craig would be happy!
http://theworldofhowey.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/republican-death-squad/
November 14th, 2009 at 12:38 pmI think they fear the truth. The repugs just dont care about the American people. The trolls are the people that this administration is trying to help. I just dont get it either.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:39 pmWeird isn’t it ralph? I haven’t had much opportunity to profile the anonymous negative vote attention seeker. It seems slightly interesting from an abnormal pyschology viewpoint but still I will have to give it more thought. Right now I have to consider laying that sheet vinyl in the bathroom as it seems unwilling to do it itself.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:47 pmCheers-
dbadass, it seems a particularly futile gesture, this anonymous vote-down phenomenon, but it’s clearly not driven by a desperate desire for attention.
In fact, I’d suggest it’s the opposite: an outgrowth of an antisocial need to operate away from the scrutiny of others. A desperate desire to escape attention, in other words.
But, as you say, more study is required before we can say anything on this matter with any degree of clinical authority.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:01 pmI understand what you are saying ralph but it seems the effort taken indicates a desire to be noticed. I will reflect further upon this while figuring out how to cut around this plumbing….
November 14th, 2009 at 1:05 pmI think he’s just a ⨃
November 14th, 2009 at 1:11 pmNothing With a Face:
“I’m on a bus on a psychedelic trip
Reading murder books tryin’ to stay hip.”
—–
November 14th, 2009 at 1:18 pmA little obscure but thanks for triggering the memory…
I think Fred is probably right. Often the obvious explaination is the correct one…
November 14th, 2009 at 1:28 pmralph the wonder llama says:
There have been several prominent talking points pushed by republicans over the last year and a half that demonstrated quite clearly that they’ve got nothing in the tank. They are bankrupt of ideas and unsteadily cruising on whatever momentum they can gather from simply opposing whatever the Democrats propose.
“Death panels” is, to me, one of the more glaring examples of this sad phenomenon.
You hit the bottle on the head of the drunk bastard. Nicely said. We are out to succeed by simply pointing out your failures, perceived or on our wish list.
As a party, we have no interest whatsoever in tangible achievements in route back to power. What we hope to do is sway voters back to our column by saying, “Hey, we’re the party out of power. It would be fresh and exciting to watch us regain power. Vote for us.” After that, we write up a ‘revenge’ agenda on all those voters who voted against us in 2006 by reintroducing the flag burning amendment and creating a congressional office that educates the public on the ills of being gay. Then we reintroduce the marriage amendment will a vengeance. Then we insert McDonalds into the food pyramid and give the NSA power to spy on American’s daily lives and pass the gathered information over to the health insurance companies so they can invent more wacky preexisting conditions.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:58 pmYou forgot the tax exemption for Applebee’s to Advertise on the giant screens of the drive in mega churches…
November 14th, 2009 at 2:04 pmGood one, dbadass! And a resolution supporting Stephen Colbert in his bid to preserve the heterosexuality of Mayo!
November 14th, 2009 at 2:31 pmAnd I am sure that they will be asking their insurance company to discontinue this service for their members, like they did with coverage for abortions. The GOP is the party of “less”. They want to make sure that their people have as little coverage as possible.
November 14th, 2009 at 2:43 pmFred says:
I think he’s just a ⨃
November 14th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Like that unicode trick, eh? :)
November 14th, 2009 at 2:48 pmThe republicans don’t think about what their positions are, it is not hypocrisy for them. Their objective is to scare and conjure fear to reap public hysteria and thus reach their goals of defeating Obama and the progressive agenda. It isn’t hypocrisy, they are against all that is good for people. They are bullies and whatever gets them what they want is all that matters. We need to find more pungent words to describe their efforts to deceive. Hypocrisy is over used.
November 14th, 2009 at 2:49 pmHi Richard:
November 14th, 2009 at 3:46 pmIs that just bizarro talk or what? Come on man try to stay somewhere in the realm of possibility…
This message is for all the baby boomers on this blog. I got a letter about cremation plans. Now ok I’m very healthy with a step in my walk. I laughed and said to my daughter is this a hint or is the GOP trying to tell me something. I’ve gotten alot of this stuff as the GOP talks up the death talk for older people. I think I’ll stay around to see how this plays out. As for the RNC well I’ll be around to get on their last nerve and speak out. I’ll go down kicking and screaming and fighting before I let the GOP destroy the United States of America.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:46 pmFascist leftists will be held accountable for their treason.
—
November 14th, 2009 at 3:47 pmNot that I know any but I am sure they are shiver in those knee boots as we speak…
ing. Damn!
November 14th, 2009 at 3:47 pmRichardSTALLman
My GOD you are stupid. You are an ignorant punkass troll. You are a liar and a punk. Just STFU and let the adults talk
November 14th, 2009 at 3:48 pmHitler
You are a liar and a fool. Hitler put real socialists in concentration camps next to Jews. I get that you are a punkass troll and couldnt care less what is true or real. You are just a troll here to push our buttons but you are so stupid you suck even at THAT.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:49 pmRichard
November 14th, 2009 at 3:54 pmYou seems to be a headline writer. Is it possible you might just select one of your powerful thesis statements and then defend it in a persuasive piece? I so look forward to seeing the depth of your thinking…
RichardSTALLman
Rightwingnuts love to LIE and show everyone how STUPID and brainwashed they are. You are ignorant beyond human comprehension STALLman. You are an ignorant pile of dogshit. Tile grout is smarter than you will ever be. You spew lies and you babble like the moron you are. You havent any slight idea what you are talking about. You are too stupid to even recognize reality. Just STFU. You are too stupid to add to an adult conversation
November 14th, 2009 at 4:08 pmdbadass
THINKING??? HA thats the funniest thing I have heard all week. Thinking from STALLman. That walking pile of dogshit will NEVER know the joy of higher brain function. Troll repetition is the only thing that moron will ever be able to accomplish
November 14th, 2009 at 4:09 pmI see our friend Richard Stall Man is back.
I still haven’t found out whether or not he knows Larry Craig. I hear ol’ Larry’s a “stall man” too…
November 14th, 2009 at 4:31 pmI have to say I find our friend the Stall Man one of the more entertaining of the trolls.
I’ve always had a soft spot for hyperbolic histrionics.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:32 pmralph the wonder llama says:
I’ve always had a soft spot for hyperbolic histrionics
haha – where do you suppose he came up with 5 years? I didn’t see that in Pelosi’s plan – 5 years in a ‘concentration camp’ for not buying insurance? And getting re-educated while you’re there no less? hahahaha
November 14th, 2009 at 4:43 pm“Pelosi will have to hire some of Pol Pot’s “educators” for those that are locked up for 5 years in a concentration camp for not buying health insurance.”
—
November 14th, 2009 at 4:47 pmThis makes me giggle each time I read it. Just imagine those interviews….
Caf duty would take on a whole new meaning….
November 14th, 2009 at 4:49 pmIt’s unclear whether the RNC’s insurance plan covers these end-of-life consultations, and neither Cigna nor the RNC replied to inquiries from ThinkProgress.
So….the answer is pretty obvious to me…
November 14th, 2009 at 11:43 pmAnother waste of money, end of life counseling? Why would you be afraid to die because your a worthless piece of shit democrat.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:05 amNeither the therapist or the person being counseled for this has experience death so what is it for?
November 16th, 2009 at 2:11 amCIGNA provides information on hundreds of medical issues on our Web site to support our customers and encourage them to discuss directly with their physicians. CIGNA does not offer any insurance coverage devoted to end of life counseling.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:50 pm