It only makes sense to apply a means test to this entitlement. Why should a millionaire in Palm Beach pay the same premium as a poor person? The fact is that unless some such criteria are applied to entitlements (including social security) the plans will go bust and no one will collect anything!
Why should he be penalized for being thrifty and productive?
You realize this is a Conservative forum, right? I am sure you will be more comfortable at your normal DU home.
Well, there are two schools of thought on this one. The first would state that punishing society's most productive members acts as a disincentive to further productivity, and should be avoided. That's often known as "conservatism".
The second states that we should expect society's productive members to support everyone else through means of government-enforced wealth transfer. This is the school to which you belong, which goes by the name of "liberalism".
It's the difference between the US and France:
In the US, citizens are supposed to be Equal under the law. So the premium that must be paid to particpate in a a government program like Medicare should be the same for everyone.
In France, they seek an Egalitarian society, in which everyone exists on an equal plane. Achieving this requires punishing people who work hard and make valuable contributions to society, and it requires rewarding lazy people who sap society's strength.
Why should they pay the same for gas?
Why should they pay the same toll on the Sawgrass Parkway?
Because they are buying the same thing, that's why!
I guess the millionaire in Palm Beach could also ask, why should I even bother paying into this mandatory system, when I can pay for my own health care!
I see you are the AM's "fair haired troll" for the week.
They let anti-American folk like you stay so we don't become too much of an echo chamber.
Always interesting to have Liberal Socialists to smack around.
Why shouldnt the millionaire buy regular insurance instead of being jackbooted into Social security and medicare?
so you are all for redistributing the wealth from each according to his ability to each according to his need ?
And I have a counter proposal: How about allowing US citizens to opt out of having a large chunk of their paycheck being taken out in the form of SS and Medicare? Granted, they wouldn't be entitled to benefits, but in about another 10 years or so the benefits will be whittled away to nothing.
Then the next question is: Where the heck did all that money go?
Unlike Social Security, there is no cap on earnings on which Medicare taxes are paid. For example, this year the most anyone pays for individual Social Security taxes is $7206.30 because he only pays the tax on the first $94,200 he earns. There is no cap on Medicare taxes. If Microsoft paid Bill Gates $100,000,000 this year, his Medicare taxes would be $1,450,000. (The Medicare tax rate is 1.45% for individuals and 2.9% for the self-employed.)
The classical rate determination methods for REAL insurance programs determine premiums based on many things: age, sex, lifestyle (smoking for example). Income for income's sake isn't a variable (unless by virtue of having money it has been proven you live longer).
Because someone has 'more' money is no reason to charge them more than someone with 'less' money simply because they can afford it. Extend that line of thinking to the hot dog line at a ball game, because it makes just about as much sense.
This flawed logic of 'we'll go bankrupt' or 'it's only right they should pay more, because they have it'is rooted in envy, jealousy and laziness.
The only plan that is 'fair' is 'equal' treatment. Income-based rates are neither.
A better question would be, why is everyone required to participate in this immense Ponzi scheme?
I have my own health insurance which I pay for and always have. Medicare is an added burden which is layered (no choice on my part, either) right on top of it. I can't opt out. My own insurance is better, but Medicare is the primary payer. I must still maintain my regular insurance because Medicare has so many gaps.
Medicare is the national and universal socialized medical system we always say we objected to having. It is forced on young and old and required for all at 65.
This mediocre system is going to bankrupt us all!
If the millionaire in Palm Beach or anywhere for that matter isn't eligible for the Medicate "benefit" Why is he being ask to pay the tax???
Why is the government involved in health care anyway? Honestly, kill Medicare and Medicaid. The free market will resolve everything.
Because the millionaire already paid for it. The real question is why should the deadbeat get free care on behalf of those that chose to take care of their own future?
It's past time to abolish the whole social security and medicare program.
You are out of your mind. As another poster said, this is being done "... to assist those who didn't bother to invest/save properly". So all of us who scrimped and saved for retirement, skipping cigarettes, and cruises, and fancy dinners, now have to pay for those who went out and spent their money on these things instead of saving it for retirement. This is incredibly harmful to this country. It is a disincentive to save for retirement.