Posted on 01/20/2023 6:39:22 PM PST by 6thavenue
I see I posted before I saw your replt. Still don’t think it makes a difference. the groceries are just a benefit of your Advantage plan being offered by the company you signed up with and I don’t think have anything to do with Medicare Part A or B.
I see I posted in between your second response. I guess I’m wrong.
“plan buyers are actually paying for those groceries, in higher premiums, reduced benefits, restrictions on service providers, etc.”
I do pay the monthly medicare part B premium, and that’s all. I pay $0 a month to the insurance company, and $0 to see my GP and $20 to see almost any specialist. If I get an annual checkup, which I always do, I get a $75 reward; I also get free eyeglasses, 3 free dental cleanings a year, and money to join the local gym or buy exercise equipment if I want to. So my honest political opinion is that there is some room to trim medicare expenses.
What is your monthly premium?
The “wealthy” people contributed more than their share over their whole working life. Now you are OK taking it away. The harder working younger people are now paying more than their share for healthcare. Why not just go totally socialistic? See if the harder working people continue working.
The aim should be that Medicare recipients should get what they need, cutting excessive payments for technical stuff such as drugs priced above European levels.
Hospitals need to be made more efficient.
The EMTALA abuse, funded via Medicare, has to be tapered off.
EMTALA hospital visits should have a $100 upfront payment requirement in 2024, $200 in 2025, etc. Don’t have $100? See the pawn shop by the ER entrance.
And that's all?? It's about $170 a month....about $2000 a year...and comes right out of your SS check. Who knew we would still be paying premiums after we retired? I was stunned.
The wealthy do pay more, but the SS tax is capped.
For every doctor visit, specialist visit, lab test, imaging test I pay a deductible to the physician (after Medicare has paid whatever they allow). I do not get any groceries. I am a COPD patient, who also sees a Cardiologist and Endocrinologist. All doctors and labs, including my primary are paid partly by me. This year my deductible is $2700 so the Blues do not pay anything until I have reached that limit. Again, no groceries, no perks.
That is true, but the wealthy still pay in much more over their lifetime than they receive. The lower income people make out like bandits relative to their contributions.
Socialism is poison. The free market works wonders. In Singapore everyone pays cash from their health savings plans for medical services so they care how much they spend. Singapore spends less than 4% of GNP for medical care, while the USA spends over 17%. I wish I knew how to get from where we are to where they are.
I would like to see Medicare Part B drugs moved to Medicare Part D.
When Medicare Part B premiums get too high, people won’t take out Medicare Part B at age 65.
I was debating whether to take Medicare Part B come October, but my uncle left me enough money to pay for it.
I looked into an Advantage plan when offered this autumn and from what I remember I could only take one (geographic area) and chose not to do so. The one adavantage to the traditional plans that I have is I am not locked into in-plan physicians/facilities.
The GOPe doesn’t need to even pass legislation to cut social security benefits, they just need to mention that they’re going to, and the damage is done.
This will happen in the weeks before the 2024 election if it looks like Trump is winning and/or a MAGA majority will gain control of Congress.
Cocaine Mitch and his butt boy Linseed will see to it.
Congress has set payment priorities by law, which Yellen must obey.
However, the Treasury will be besieged by debt holders with court orders and SS payments may not go out.
Simple bills trading debt limit increases for Republican goals are the way to go in my opinion.
Don’t put the nation’s future in one basket bill that Biden may veto.
Make Joe and Chuck understand that they are going to get a lot of small House bills that they will have a hard time refusing to OK.
Part B is what covered doctors, outpatient services, etc. It does not cover drugs (that is Part D). Part A is only hospital insurance. I cannot see people refusing Part B since that is what pays most of the healthcare costs.
And if you go on an advantage plan you are no longer on traditional medicare at all. If after a period of year or more you want to have Medicare again you have to get reaccepted back into the program and you have to jump through hoops to do it.
If you're rich and feel guilty, donate your SS to those less fortunate. Maybe pay premiums for supplemental Medicare for those that have less. Many ways to help others.
Thank you for telling me this. I was never big on the HMO concept (which is what I consider the Advantage plans) so I will gladly stick with what I have.
Part B does not pay for any drugs, only a Part D plan does.
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