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Old 01-11-2008, 11:02 AM
 
Location: Sacramento
14,044 posts, read 27,117,608 times
Reputation: 7373

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This PowerPoint presentation by GAO highlights the problems associated with our current Medicare funding and outlays. Charts 8-12 really highlight the problem for those not wishing to read the entire presentation.

GAO proposes some solutions (charts 26 and 27). I thought that they really focus on the magnitude of the problem rather well in this presentation, discuss alternative solutions, and cover the problems associated with continuing to ignore the problem.

Considering this is GAO, instead of an advocacy blog or website, I give it higher credibility. What are my fellow poster thoughts on the problems and proposed solutions?

http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08395cg.pdf
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Old 01-11-2008, 11:21 AM
 
20,187 posts, read 23,753,027 times
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The problem is that Medicare is going to NEED major money. It will continue to increase every time and not go down. That means higher taxes... are you going to have 5% increases in taxes every now and then until you are 100% taxed? It makes no sense and making everyone pay it makes no sense. We need to get out of Medicare. An analogy is a sinking ship (Medicare), you use a bucket to take out the water (tax) but the water is coming in faster (increase cost of Medicare annually) so you work faster (increase taxes) but there comes a point where you can't pull water out of the boat fast enough (100% tax rate) and it sinks (Medicare debt). Do you abandon the boat? Yes. Socialistic policies like Medicare impose a burden on many to help only a few people and that is completely dumb in my opinion. Then there are those who wants Medicare-like coverage for ALL citizens (Universal Health Care)... if we can't afford Medicare, what makes you think we can afford Universal Health Care...
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Old 01-11-2008, 11:28 AM
 
Location: Sacramento
14,044 posts, read 27,117,608 times
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If you terminate Medicare, what would you replace it with? You can't just let the old folks suffer and expire.
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Old 01-11-2008, 12:54 PM
 
Location: Londonderry, NH
41,478 posts, read 59,552,077 times
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new to ca - some of these folks are more than willing to let old folks, along with anybody that can't make enough money to keep fed, wither and die if it will lower thier taxes.

What they do not seem to understand is that a really progressive tax on all income will actually lower thier taxes by placing the burden on the really wealthy. I can only guess that they expect to win the lottery and wouldn't want to pay high taxes when that happens so they will let themselves pay now. Dilusional.
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Old 01-11-2008, 02:42 PM
 
20,187 posts, read 23,753,027 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NewToCA View Post
If you terminate Medicare, what would you replace it with? You can't just let the old folks suffer and expire.
Old folks have been living well before Medicare was ever implemented. People seem to think that Medicare is directly correlated with life expectancy. Well, I hope not. As for how would seniors live without Medicare... suppose we pay medicare... for every senior we save, we put several families out on the street because they can't afford it. Is it right to put these families out their homes because they can't afford it? You increase taxes and you will put more people out of their homes. How much an increase in taxes will it be before anyone says, "You know what, this isn't worth it anymore". Most people are not covered by Medicare and they are not dying by the bucket..
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Old 01-11-2008, 02:45 PM
 
20,187 posts, read 23,753,027 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GregW View Post
new to ca - some of these folks are more than willing to let old folks, along with anybody that can't make enough money to keep fed, wither and die if it will lower thier taxes.

What they do not seem to understand is that a really progressive tax on all income will actually lower thier taxes by placing the burden on the really wealthy. I can only guess that they expect to win the lottery and wouldn't want to pay high taxes when that happens so they will let themselves pay now. Dilusional.
I am sorry, why should the wealthy pay for your care exactly? The really wealthy pay most of the taxes already. They get taxed probably around 50% and you want more? Why don't you focus on limiting government and reduce spending... oh wait, you don't your social programs to go away... I get disgusted with entitlement... I am this so I deserve for free and make you pay for it..
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Old 01-11-2008, 03:18 PM
 
Location: Sacramento
14,044 posts, read 27,117,608 times
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I believe almost all senior citizens are covered by Medicare, and I think that without it they would frequently be in dire situations medically. While we can debate the structure of the program, and level of medical support, termination would seem to result in rather unpleasant final few years for a significant number of folks.
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Old 01-11-2008, 03:43 PM
 
20,187 posts, read 23,753,027 times
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When I say most people, I meant Americans in general (young and old). I should of been more specific. As for the senior citizens who live with Medicare, I don't doubt that it would be tough for them if we were to cut it off completely. If I were on staff for the president, I would say we are obligated to continue Medicare but phase it out for those younger than 35 years old because the program is no longer feasible. We would continue caring for those 35 years and older who will be using the program. As for the rest of America, they will have to learn to be responsible for caring for their health insurance. Of course there will have to be significant reforms in the health industry. I would say the solution to Medicare requires a lot of changes but the problem is, personally, I don't think its feasible to solve Medicare. Why? Because I sincerely believe that it requires so much change, that neither the current president or the future presidents will go for it. They won't do anything and eventually, Medicare will collapse under its own debt. That means when it collapses, Medicare won't pay for ANYTHING and will immediately leave seniors "high and dry" as Medicare is basically dead. I rather let seniors know ahead of time that they won't be covered as they get older so that they can prepare for it, but the government would rather surprise them with it. No candidate is WILLING to make the changes necessary: 1) Take the government out of regulating the health industry and open competition. 2) Significant changes in Health Care reform with the insurance industry and the prescription industry. 3) Get rid of Medicare slowly by cutting off those younger than 35 years of age from getting these benefits (they can claim a tax deduction). 4) Mandate everyone be insured (it should be affordable if there is appropriate insurance reform). There are more but those are really just details.

I think when competition occurs between hospitals, prices will decline. I see it already between two hospitals in the area who are bringing down costs to compete with one another. Now suppose there are now 4 hospitals in that area, patients would be incredibly happy to see prices fall much more as these 4 hospitals compete (and so would I). Of course with our current adminstration, if another hospital wanted to be built along with the other two, the CEO of one hospital will call the mayor and governor and have that hospital project killed. That's the problem, the insane regulation by government in health care.
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Old 01-11-2008, 03:49 PM
 
Location: Albemarle, NC
7,730 posts, read 14,107,420 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NewToCA View Post
If you terminate Medicare, what would you replace it with? You can't just let the old folks suffer and expire.
You can't just end it. We need to educate young people that they need to be more responsible for themselves and start phasing the program out. We cannot afford to continue it. As for those that need the program, this is where we need to encourage churches, civic groups, and ordinary people to organize and start contributing money to charities to help take care of people in their own communities.

That's all I can think of. Depending on the government that got us into this mess to get us out just won't happen. We've known this was coming for a while and they did nothing except use it as a campaign platform.
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Old 01-11-2008, 03:53 PM
 
20,187 posts, read 23,753,027 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paperhouse View Post
You can't just end it. We need to educate young people that they need to be more responsible for themselves and start phasing the program out. We cannot afford to continue it. As for those that need the program, this is where we need to encourage churches, civic groups, and ordinary people to organize and start contributing money to charities to help take care of people in their own communities.

That's all I can think of. Depending on the government that got us into this mess to get us out just won't happen. We've known this was coming for a while and they did nothing except use it as a campaign platform.
The problem is that, that would only be the beginning. We also have to deal with the increasing cost of health care... specifically getting government out of interfering with health care and regulations to make it a "fair market" for competition to develop and drive costs down. As of right now, there is less competition and this not by accident and the government is part of the problem.

No candidate wants to deal with it. The candidates only want "treatments" they don't want "cures", with the exception of ONE candidate. Unfortunately, America isn't ready and because of that, candidates don't push the issue.
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