How would you feel about this as a possible compromise on Medicare?

[pnwmom]

Instead of keeping the Medicare age just as it is, at age 65,

Raise the standard Medicare age to age 67 AND AT THE SAME TIME

add Medicare as a "public option" plan, available as part of Obamacare to people from 60 to 67? Or 55 to 67?

Just wondering . . .

[former-republican]

1. So the public option for 55 and over would come out of payroll tax?

[pnwmom]

9. I'm suggesting that it be one of the options available to people

under an expanded Obamacare. But since Medicare is so much more efficient than the private insurers, the savings could be passed on to consumers.

And when people saw how much better the public option was for 55 and above, there would be that much more pressure to make it available to everyone.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. The only compromise should be to attack rising health care costs in this

country and raising the income cap.

Medicare really isn't the problem. Ballooning health care costs, waste, and fraud (cuing Gov. Rick Scott!) is the problem.

[dkf]

3. At unsubsidized prices Medicare part a and b are in excess of $800/month. That's without a drug plan

Throw in 60 year olds and maybe it gets a bit cheaper but its still pretty expensive.

And it still has 20% co-pays and needs gap coverage.

The reason it seems reasonable is because at 65 you are considered to have paid in full the part A premium through the payroll tax while working so you get that as a paid benefit and part B and D are 75% subsidized by the general fund aka income taxes. If you open it up to anyone but expect them to pay the full cost it is very pricey.

[pnwmom]

11. What I keep reading is that Medicare is much more efficient than private plans

so that, in raising the retirement age, the government will save much less than consumers will have to pay to get the same quality insurance.

So why not let people buy the more efficient, less costly insurance from the government as a "public option" instead of throwing them into the private market?

[dkf]

16. It's efficient but its got the sickest cohort. You've just lumped yourself in with heavy users.

I am not sure the exact statistic but the majority of health care funds are expended in the last 2 months of life. Everyone on Medicare is going to be experiencing this. Private health care insurers don't have this as their users will leave once they hit Medicare age.

[coalition_unwilling]

4. How would those in the 60-67 (or 55 to 67) cohort

pay for the Medicare public option?

I'm not sure I understand exactly what you are proposing.

[pnwmom]

6. I'm proposing they would pay for it the same way they would for Obamacare,

which for some means subsidies (and others would continue on Medicaid.)

I've been reading that Medicare is a more cost-efficient program than any of the private plans, so that people are going to have to pay more for private insurance than the government will save kicking people out of Medicare.

So why not let people pay directly for a public option/Medicare plan instead of limiting them to choices from the private market?

[Walk away]

19. I would actually be for it depending upon the difference between the private and...

public premiums. I am fifty seven so the question means a lot to me. I would definitely choose better coverage and reasonable rates for two extra years. My governor has vetoed Obama Care and who knows how long it will take to get a federal program up and running. For those of us who have to struggle with $10,000.00 a year in premiums, buying into Medicaid sounds interesting.

[pnwmom]

15. The same way they would pay for Obamacare. But getting a public option at age 60

or age 55 would be less costly than private insurance (because Medicare is much more efficient), so the savings from age 55 or 60 to age 65 would compensate for having to pay more from 65-67.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. How about leaving it alone?

What exactly are people on social security (and most people opt to go on at 62) supposed to do for medical insurance for those uncovered years?

Why is the Democratic Party negotiating about which cuts to make in SS and Medicare? How about NO CUTS?

[pnwmom]

8. I'm suggesting that they wouldn't have uncovered years if they had a public option/Medicare plan

during that time.

I would be happy if the Medicare age stayed at 65.

I would also be happy if we had a public option as part of Obamacare.

[Warren Stupidity]

24. A public option is not even on the table.

And I have no idea what a public-option/Medicare is. Is that just "Medicare but more expensive"? If so how does that address the problem of health care affordability? All that does is hurt people ages 65-67 by increasing the cost of health care for them. Why would you want to increase the cost of healthcare for people in those groups?

[underthematrix]

7. This problem could be solved by passing comprehensive immigration reform

All undocumented citizens who have been in the US for for at least three years or are currently under 18 would be automatically granted citizenship with the exception of those who have engaged in serious violent or drug related crimes (manufacturing and selling meth, coke heroin). We wouldn't need to cut anything.

[GeorgeGist]

10. Why welsh on Medicare?

[Mel Content]

12. "buying into" Medicare wouldn't be cheap.

why not just go with single payer and be done with it...?

[pnwmom]

17. Single payer would be fine with me, but politically I don't see it happening

with a Republican House.

[southernyankeebelle]

13. Now that might be a good idea. I start Jan getting medicare but for people 55 and up would be a

good idea. Many times people can't quit work because of their health. I'd think it would be good. Is that an idea out there by a politican or just talking.

[bluestateguy]

14. Then all the sick people age 55-66 would sign up

And drive up Medicare's costs. The private insurance cos would have no incentive to make their product affordable to those folks; they would just dump them on to the public option.

The private insurance companies actually oppose raising the Medicare age because they would be saddled with older sicker customers. An interesting ally for us to have right now.

[pnwmom]

18. Why wouldn't any people, sick or not, be more likely to pick a Medicare option?

It is funny to suddenly have the health insurers on the side of consumers, with regard to the change of age. That gives me some hope!

[Mel Content]

20. Medicare was a GIANT gift to the insurance industry from the get-go.

it took all their most expensive clients, and shifted the burden to taxpayers.

[dkf]

22. You got it.

[Ruby the Liberal]

25. I hadn't considered that

Any port in a storm, I guess - but I'll gladly take their help on this one!

[believer10101]

21. Would be

even more expensive than the current Medicare.

[democrattotheend]

23. I am looking into something like that

I am writing a paper for my health policy class about why we should not raise the Medicare age, and this is one solution that I plan to advocate for in some form.

But in terms of the chances of it happening politically, I say pie in the sky right now.

[TheKentuckian]

26. That would mean that at 55 or 60 people would gain universal access to

income base subsidies and into the exchanges. By definition you would have to allow national versus or at least in addition to state exchanges.

Pretty radical and beneficial compared what is on deck now so maybe if it doesn't transform into a song and dance I could grow to appreciate it a lot.

Well...except that the subsidies are almost surely less politically protected than Medicare as assaulted as it is. Most people probably don't even know they exist and if it goes according to plan most will never any such experience so they will continue to not know and since they don't get it (or hell, some will get it and not see it), it is chalked as "welfare" and as such a rich target for "reform" AKA cutting and denying access.

That and I think the cost shit baked into the concept only serves to increase systemic costs and places the "savings" and the additional expense to those we are supposed to be helping.

It still might be an interesting trade off long term but only if substantial changes in the Wealthcare and Profit Protection Act are part of the mix. If it is as it is now where most folks can't even get in and get an income based subsidy and if you turn Medicare into a bunch of state pools for the oldest segment then I scoff.

[on point]

27. NO WAY. NO HOW! Not Needed. Implement Single Payer for a much bigger savings

Single Payer will probably save the country 30% off the top on health care. That is far bigger savings and better results.

The talk about medicare isn't about budget, it is about ideology. The pukes want to do away with Medicare as much as possible. Period. There is no need to cut the program. Fixing it only takes a willingness to do things differently.

And if the goal is to cut the deficit, then cut the defense first.

Massive cuts to defense before ANY KIND of CUT to Medicare

That's where I stand.

[on point]

28. New Dem Meme: "The fix for Medicare is Single Payer"

[truebluegreen]

29. I'm tired of compromising with evil.

I'd rather lower the buy-in age to 55 which would save money for Medicare (more enrollees paying in, but cheaper, healthier ones) AND for employers or the self-employed of the 55 to 64 age-group (the most expensive group in the private sector).

Also it would help lower the unemployment rate because more people would be able to retire AND promote enterpreneurship among those who are unable to start off on their own because of health insurance costs. It would even save money for the insurance companies, not that I give a flying eff about them.

And if it weren't for that insufferable prig Joe LIEberman we might have had it already!

That said, it's way too sensible to pass our Congress.

Edited for clarity, and again because I can't type todya.

[LWolf]

30. I'm not into compromise,

when it comes to doing what is right.

I'll take fully funded Medicare and SS at 60, and a universal, single-payer, not-for-profit national health CARE plan instead of Obamainsurance.

Even better, at 55.