From Stark
At a gathering of conservative activists, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has proposed some major changes to Medicare, the government-funded health care system for older people.
Romney wants to give senior citizens vouchers that they could use to purchase private insurance, or to enroll in something like the existing system.
Perhaps those of you with some experience with the current Medicare system could comment on whether you think this is a good idea.
On Mitt in general:
http://daletoons.blogspot.com/
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Without information on the dollar specifics of the vouchers and what the cost of private and Medicare premiums would be, Romney’s statements are meaningless and amount to nothing more than campaign rhetoric.
I’ve been on Medicare for 18 years , my wife 15 yrs. I paid in since inception. Now pay $2oo/month. It obviously is not covering expenses. A start, and only a start, is to raise our Medicare monthly “dues” by $50.00 to $100 using a graduated scale based on last years gross income. Also kick up the FICA/Medicare cap to 250K . Those are suggestions based on my experiences with those entitlements. What are yours?
BTW I’s was trying to post the picture not the article, here it is:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJyd06IcMkE/TrKVHcRTzwI/AAAAAAAAAug/VgCePf98y3g/s1600/Mitt%2Bon%2Ba%2BMission.jpg
See if it’s sticks this time.
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
The idea of subjecting Medicare recipients to the not so tender mercies of private insurance companies is patently ludicrous, but I bet the insurance companies can’t wait for all those new, government-subsidized customers.
Why not give vouchers to buy Medicare to anyone who can’t afford private insurance regardless of age?
Todd,
Overweaning government control and distrust of private insurance companies coupled with coverage mandates is what got us to where we are.
Since our present situation is untenable, we might consider a new approach.
Vouchers, coupled with a freedom to offer policies without preconditions, would result in a dynamic market that would revitalize health insurance in Washington State.
How in the world could anyone distrust insurance companies? They’ve certainly made ours the healthcare system every nation envies.
Just witness the masses clamoring to privatize their systems, kick off an overweening government, and bask in the warmth of for profit care.
OK Greg, Now that you’ve posted your usual batch of sarcasm leave your cynicism aside and try to bring an iota of positive conversation to the discussion.
Try readinf between the lines, Ted. There’s a message there.
Greg, I’m way too old to play any game but Monopoly so try me with “plain English “. I am interested in what you have to say. I thought your treatise on the re-conveyance issue to be very thought provoking and of great interest to me.
I’m way too old and tired (and jet-lagged) to even think of writing a treatise on health care, Ted. Suffice to say, like most problems that plague our nation, too much privatization and naive faith in greed and self interest, prevent us from pursuing reforms that would bring the cost, and consequently availability, of care to the public.
Travelling around the world, seeing the systems in other countries, it’s pretty clear enriching doctors, maintaining artificial scarcity, tolerating drug monopolies and assisting them through ridiculous patent terms, and putting the interests of private insurers ahead of the public interest, has put us in this morass.
But as long as our elected representatives are fundamentally for rent, and the great propaganda machine keeps brainwashing the unthinking with tales of the greatest health system in the world, more and more will have to be satisfied with less and less until the egregiousness of the imbalance between the haves and have nots is so conspicuously repugnant, someday we’ll make sure we’re not fooled again.