I agree with you. Medicaid is also the only one of the big 3 entitlement programs that is means tested. It's truly for the poor and destitute, those who have nowhere else to turn (and illegals, which is another problem altogether).
I bet a lot of money would be saved if SS and Medicare were means tested.
I agree.
However SS is really a forced savings/disability insurance plan with a defined benefit program which generates a very low and perhaps negative returns for most people. But it should be run as a forced savings program instead of a pyramid scheme. And the components should be separated and reported separately and managed accordingly.
Changing it, wouldn't be a real change in any sense, but it would change the focus from are there enough funds to pay benefits to "what are the funds invested in?" and "Is US Treasury Debt a sound investment?"
Medicare already charges premiums, but those could be means tested and a progressive rate charged.