Ryan aims to cut Medicaid and Medicare in 2018 (Huckabee, illegal, Afghanistan)

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest

Yes its an entitlement. Your "contributions" go into the general fund to pay todays bills. The supreme court agrees with me on this. You been had.

Bit more convoluted than that.

By law, Medicare and Social Security surpluses are invested in special issue treasuries, making funds available to the Federal Government who is obligated to repay those bonds unless Congress decides otherwise.

Payroll tax rates have not increased in 30 years. Some may recall the Reagan tax cuts occured in the same window as an increase in Medicare and Social Security tax rate and and the gradual increase in the full retirement age for Social Security benefits.

The Federal Government pays Payroll taxes for all Federal employees and contributes to Federal Pensions. Most, if not all, states do likewise. Then there's county and municipal employees. The Constitutions of 7 states, including my own, guarantee state employees the benefits that they recieved on day one of employment.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

It appears half the country scorns personal responsibility. Whatever, they can cut all they want. I won't be using either or SS.

We need to get back to teaching econ and personal responsibility in our public schools so we don't have a bunch of old deadbeats like we have now.

Medicare was created because private insurers declined to insure hospitalization for the elderly.

While the private Supplemental Medicare market is wildly profitable for insurers, that's not the case for the Primary Insurer, Medicare.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Enigma777

And they reliably vote always. Like mailmen. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow will keep those on SS and Medicare from the polls.

It's called the Third Rail for a reason.

The AARP is the largest lobby in the US, by voters.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

The seniors already on medicare will not be affected. Just another version of "I got mine".

10,000 people a day have been and will continue to turn 65.

[Frank DeForrest]

Originally Posted by ChiGeekGuest

Rational people desire a functional government no matter their political leanings.

Rational people dont like being victims.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by sware2cod

They are going after people 55 and under for Social Security cuts. Medicare might get older people too when they try to convert to vouchers.

If I recall, the original plan for vouchers was that seniors could use them to pay for private insurance. The challenge is that private insurers decline to be the primary insurer of elderly healthcare risks.

[Ztonyg]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

If I recall, the original plan for vouchers was that seniors could use them to pay for private insurance. The challenge is that private insurers decline to be the primary insurer of elderly healthcare risks.

You'd have to do a 2 phase system (like the current Obamacare setup) where you provide vouchers to seniors and also subsidize the private insurers.

The issue is, like the current Obamacare setup, many of the plans (even with the vouchers and subsidies to insurers) will be ridiculously expensive. Also, you're not going to charge seniors a penalty for not carrying insurance, so you're going to have an unstable market.

Seniors live on fixed incomes. If these plans get more and more expensive year after year, seniors are no longer going to buy them because they can't afford to.

If this plan is tried, it will lead to single payer faster than the Democrats could've ever dreamed when a bunch of angry seniors are no longer able to afford healthcare.

[Casper in Dallas]

As a Reminder:
Trump said he will not allow any cuts to SS or Medicare.
Meaning, if the Repubs pass a bill cutting either program then trump is obligated to veto the Bill, per what Cons on here say about him upholding his word.

[PullMyFinger]

Originally Posted by sware2cod

Get ready to pay more out-of-pocket for your Medicare, with services cut as well. Maybe it'll be converted to a voucher and they'll give you $300/month credit for your Medicare when you turn 65. But the monthly premium will be $550-$750. If you want a comparable premium to today's Medicare benefit , then you've got to dig into your pocket to get the $750 plan even though the voucher is only $300/mo. This means you pay $450 extra from your pocket.

This is necessary because we just gave away the farm...via the GOP "tax cut for billionaires". Now there's not enough money to make ends meet for the country.

First our Medicare which we have been paying into our entire working life. Then they'll come after our Social Security Retirement Income, telling us there's not enough money and we'll have to retire at 70 or take massive cuts in our Social Security Retirement Income if we want to retire before 70.

Rob from the Middle Class to pay for the elite billionaires that the GOP favor.

That's what you get when you vote for Republicans. Anyone who thought Trump cared about the middle class(like he campaigned) was fooled. He cares about the billionaires and large corporations. He only cares about the middle class when he wants to get votes or hear chants at a rally, or to sell MAGA hats.

Not a problem if you planned for your retirement instead of smoking weed and expecting others to take care of you.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Dane_in_LA

The Boomers put their expenses on the credit card that the rest of us will have to pay off. Why am I not surprised?

The boomers are the first generation to have paid into Medicare their entire working lives.