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I figure they will continue to pay Medicare taxes over their working lifetimes.
That covers the whole basis for complaint by those who've already paid their Medicare taxes for all their working careers. Of course, it depends if Medicare-for-all would continue to collect taxes as the program that exists now has previously. But we really don't know how issues such as this would be handled. There could be numerous possible versions of such a program, all of which won't be decided until later. Medicare-for-all or other single-payer health-care programs are just political talking-points at the present time.
Last edited by Steve McDonald; 11-26-2019 at 09:51 PM..
I'm 71 years old and have had Medicare since turning 65 and I love it.
I don't have a problem with Medicare for all as long as the "alls" pay for it exactly like I have done and do now. No, Medicare is not free. Got that, it is not free.
You do realize that Medicare is not entirely self-funded? The reason Medicare premiums are so cheap is that the US Government subsidizes a huge part of Medicare. Last year the US government contributed over $500 billion, or about 14% of the US budget, to Medicare.
So the implication that Medicare pays for itself and Medicare for All will not is simply false.
And yes, I am on Medicare. Like all seniors I am sucking on the teat of the US government. So if I can, why can't everyone?
It is just a name, but the Medicaids are historically state based. M4A would have to be federal, as states cannot afford the HC funding for their people.
You are getting way to hung up on the name "Medicare for All". Who knows what it will be if it even happens. And if there is some universal health care, it won't have anything to do with Medicare. Bernie and Warren are just looking for a catch-phrase that is easy for people to understand because simple is what sells.
And, just what happens when OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY RUNS OUT??
A lot of them did until something happened to them. There have been many examples given where a woman got divorced with kids and ended up on Medicaid after working and paying into the system. People who have fallen into poor health and can no longer work are poor enough to get Medicaid. They paid into it.
But yes, calling it "Medicare" was a bad idea. People on Medicare know that the gov. pays for it along with what they paid into it. And they paid their employer health insurance at the same time. Calling this Medicare makes it sound like suddenly some 25 year old will get free Medicare. In fact everyone will get free Medicare. Health care should be "free" but don't call it Medicare.
And, just what happens when OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY RUNS OUT??
Technically that happened long ago, way before Medicare. This country has been running on a deficit budget for years because "other people's money ran out", i.e., we don't have enough tax revenue to pay for all the stuff the US government does. Of course the military is the biggest suck for that money.
But if push came to shove, Medicare could be gotten rid of. Wouldn't bother me and I am on it. I think it is a bit weird that we pay for retired people like me who aren't working. But as long as it is there I will take it. And while they are cutting off old people may as well cut off all the support for premies. Premature infants also don't work and have astronomical medical bills. I am sure there are some others that could be cut off and save tons of money so you won't be burdened.
OK, so it's a good deal for the seniors who have paid in over their lifetimes. That still doesn't address the inequity that if this were to be instituted across-the-board, all the young adults and middle-aged adults would STILL end up with the Medicare benefits, and even MORE "above and beyond" that what they paid in (because they haven't paid in).
Although I did come up with an idea to equalize things during the phase-in period of about 30 years.
Younger folks are lower risks and just don't typically need much in the way of HC services like current Medicare patients. And if we go this route, new enrollees will start paying in at a younger age.
If we go this route these are details that will have to be hashed out over at least many month's time.
I remember touring one when my father was at the end of his life.
The administrator told me that "90% of her people" were on Medicaid.
Deadbeats? Just like Team Red claims?
No, average folks who worked 30 to 40 years in the mills/factories of the Rust Belt. The same union Dems who turned to Trump in 2016.
After their 100 days of Medicare were up they then went to their private long term insurance plans. After they exhausted those it was on to the next phase: liquidating their assets/monies accumulated over the past 30-40 years.
Well, when a bottle of aspirin in a nursing home costs $300 even though across the street at Rite Aid it goes for $3 things get out of hand real quick.
Some are destitute and qualify for Medicaid after a year. Others last three. The real non-deadbeats last five or six...according to the administrator.
All to live with chronic pain, Alzheimer's, dementia, and other diminished cognitive conditions. What a lovely way to exit this hellhole.
She told me that most of the kids don't even tell the parents that everything they worked for over their entire lives is gone. If the spouse is still living the government can't touch the house so there's your silver lining. But it's only a matter of time.
The adult kids don't tell the elderly parents, according to her, because the Silent Generation and the Greatest Generation believed charity was for the weak and Medicaid was for lowlife bums.
Well congrats. I don't know how old you are but you've bought the same false paradigm as they did.
Truth is we have no proper health care when it comes to end of life in this country. You'll all be on Medicaid if you live long enough or the aspirin goes up to $600. The rich are only immune as far their money goes which it does...for the most part now. Lucky them. They get to be robbed of more total dollars if they can manage to hang on for one more day.
All for the glorious socialized health care system both teams have propped up and done nothing to fix. Well, "fix" is relative. Them being involved in the first place is what started this mess (with them creating Medicare and Medicaid).
Last edited by No_Recess; 11-27-2019 at 02:25 AM..
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last five or six...according to the administrator. 
