Medicare vouchers; a fraud

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by Yooperkat

Another thing is that for folks that don't need Medicare, even as Seniors they are still required to pay into it, right?

No. For now, one can still opt out of Medicare. Medicare Part A (hospital) has no cost. Medicare Part B (doctors visits, etc.) has a monthly premium of $96.50/$110 depending on when one enrolled. If you delay enrolling in Part B, the premium is increased 10% or more the longer you delay.

High income retirees pay substantially more for Medicare Part B, however. Anywhere from $115.40 to $369.10 per month, plus additional costs for Medicare Part D (drug coverage). I was shocked to learn this. The coverage is not that great and many doctors won't accept Medicare.

Two different views:

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[Yooperkat]

Read these posts and then read Finn Jarber's cited article written by Allan Sloan.

Sloan says that retirees don't have the time or the competence to choose an approptiate health care plan.

Balogna.

[EinsteinsGhost]

Originally Posted by Yooperkat

There are probably a lot of factors that contribute to health care costs. You can say that costs will double, but maybe there are ways to keep those medical costs lower. I mean even gas prices effect the price of everything.

The costs indeed double over a period of about 8 years. There is no need for "will". Even if they don't keep doubling every year, what guarantee do you have that they will not outpace consumer price and create a burden on the elderly?

Not sure what you mean by improved health care delivery. You know, rationaning will not be an improvement in delivery.

Rationing will be the ultimate outcome of the Ryan plan. In 2000, if you could get something for $100 that you would have to pay $200 in 2008, but you had only $125. What would be your choice but to deal with rationing?