Let's Get Rid of Medicare Too

[Hoonose]

Originally Posted by InformedConsent

What has the federal government totally screwed up? SS, Medicare, the war on drugs, the war on poverty, immigration, HUD's completely unrealistic Affordable Lending mandates that nearly wiped out our financial system... Need I go on?

I would suggest that we stick to Medicare (and maybe SS) right now. Everyone entitled has received SS and Medicare benefits. No one left behind. Even in 2008/9 with the economic crash.

[Mircea]

Originally Posted by Hoonose

SS and Medicare have, and will continue to work, unless in the future we and our elected officials say not to fund them. Or restrict them. Or lower payouts. Who will vote for that?

Congratulations on constructing a Circular Argument.

The only way to convert the special treasury securities to cash is to pull money from the General Fund.

It's time for this thread to die and the OP be demolished, so

The results are staggering. CRS identified 83 overlapping federal welfare programs that together represented the single largest budget item in 2011—more than the nation spends on Social Security, Medicare, or national defense. The total amount spent on these 80-plus federal welfare programs amounts to roughly $1.03 trillion. Importantly, these figures solely refer to means-tested welfare benefits. They exclude entitlement programs to which people contribute (e.g., Social Security and Medicare).

Source: Senate Budget Committee

CRS Report: Welfare Spending The Largest Item In The Federal Budget

You could cut the 83 over-lapping Welfare Programs that cost $1+ TRILLION and cost more than either Social Security or Medicare or Defense:

Indian Human Services*
Indian Housing Block Grants
Indian Education
Indian Health Service

[* Note: These programs may be under treaty with various Indian Tribes. Abrogation of the various treaties between the several Tribal nation-States and the United States may violate international law.]


These are the redundant healthcare services sucking up tax dollars.

Family Planning
Consolidated Health Centers
Transitional Cash and Medical Services for Refugees
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Voluntary Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit—Low-Income Subsidy
Medicaid
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
Breast/Cervical Cancer Early Detection
Maternal and Child Health Block Grant

Note: this is why many others and I brutally attack claims that the US spends more than other States on healthcare.


First, each State measures GDP differently. The US changed it's GDP calculations in July 2013....calculate GDP the same for every State and see how no statistical difference exists.



Second, other States do not have over-lapping programs.....remove the over-lapping programs, then see how no difference exists.


Third:

Portugal
Individual: pre-existing conditions, long-term chronic illnesses (such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and asthma), HIV/AIDS, haemodialysis, self-inflicted injuries, psychiatric treatments, check-ups, dental care, outpatient drugs, alternative medicine and non-evidence based treatment; dental care, delivery costs and outpatient drugs are only covered by the most expensive policies

Spain
HIV/AIDS, alcoholism and drug addiction, dental care (often available for a supplementary premium), prosthesis, infertility treatment, orthopaedics etc; some insurers do not have general restrictions but may reject certain conditions; most insurers offer extra benefits for a supplementary premium eg organ transplants, second opinion, family planning, assistance during trips, treatment abroad, certain prosthesis; only one insurer offers homeopathy or spa treatment

Sweden
Emergency care, long-term care, HIV/AIDS, some other communicable diseases, diseases and injuries as a result of the use of alcohol or other intoxicating substances, pre-natal care, child birth (normal or with complications), termination of pregnancy, infertility treatment, vaccinations

UK
Pre-existing conditions, GP services, accident and emergency admission, long-term chronic illnesses such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and asthma, drug abuse, self-inflicted injuries, outpatient drugs and dressings, HIV/AIDS, infertility, normal pregnancy and child birth, cosmetic surgery, gender reassignment, preventive treatment, kidney dialysis, mobility aids, experimental treatment and drugs, organ transplants, war risks and injuries arising from hazardous pursuits

Source: World Health Organization's European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Spring 2004, Volume 6, Number 1



Private insurers in other States are not hamstrung like US insurance companies are (and note the Great Irony --- Sweden, Britain, Spain and Portugal are the only Euro-States with national healthcare).

Income Redistribution Programs:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (cash aid)
Supplemental Security Income
Additional Child Tax Credit
Earned Income Tax Credit (refundable component)

More Income Redistribution Programs under the guise of "nutrition":



Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
School Breakfast Program (free/reduced price components)
National School Lunch Program (free/reduced price components)
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Child and Adult Care Food Program (lower income components)
Summer Food Service Program
Commodity Supplemental
Food Program Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Nutrition Program for the Elderly

Redundant Education Programs not mandated in the Constitution:


Adult Basic Education Grants to States
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Education for the Disadvantaged—Grants to Local Educational Agencies (Title I-A)
Title I Migrant Education Program
Higher Education—Institutional Aid and Developing Institutions
Federal Work-Study
Federal TRIO Programs
Federal Pell Grants
Education for Homeless Children and Youth
21st Century Community Learning Centers
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP)
Reading First and Early Reading First
Rural Education Achievement Program
Mathematics and Science Partnerships
Child Care and Development Fund
Head Start HHS
Developmental Disabilities Support and Advocacy Grants
Improving TeacherQualityState Grants
Academic Competitiveness and Smart Grant Program


Income Redistribution under the guise of unconstitutional "Housing" programs:


Single-Family Rural Housing Loans
Rural Rental Assistance Program
Supportive Housing for the Elderly
Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance
Community Development Block Grants
Homeless Assistance Grants
Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
Public Housing
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
Neighborhood Stabilization Program-1
Grants to States for Low-Income Housing in Lieu of Low-Income Housing Credit Allocations
Tax Credit Assistance Program
Emergency Food and Shelter Program

Water and Waste Disposal for Rural Communities
Public Works and Economic Development
Weatherization Assistance Program
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)



Social Welfare Programs not constitutionally mandated:


Older Americans Act Grants for Supportive Services and SeniorCenters
Older Americans Act Family Caregiver Program
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (social services)
Child Support Enforcement
Community Services Block Grant
Foster Care
Adoption Assistance
Social Services Block Grant
Chafee Foster Care Independence Program
Legal Services Corporation
Community Service Employment for Older Americans
Social Services and Targeted Assistance for Refugees
Foster Grandparents

So-called "Job Training" Programs:


Job Corps
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Activities
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Activities
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (employment and training)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (employment and training component)

Blue = the Future of Universal Care in the US...the Special Interest Groups that scream loudest get the most healthcare dollars.

Which group are you in?.....

Mircea