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Medicare will bankrupt the country if it is not reformed. It will consume the entire federal budget. Most people don't know that the premiums paid for Medicare parts B and D only cover about 25% of the costs, by law. The remaining 75% comes from the General Fund. In 2012 this amounted to $215 billion. With 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day for the next 20 years, the number of those over 65 will double in 20 years. By 2030 one in five will 65 or older.

The Dems have always pursued a single payer system. Medicare took care of the old and Medicaid and CHIPs covered the poor and the young--all under a single payer system. Obamacare is just the last piece to complete the trifecta. We are headed to single payer if/when Obamacare goes under.

Medicare parts B and D only cover 25% of the costs by law

That's what drives me crazy. I'm a senior on Medicare, only part A. I was forced to pay premiums for it while I worked. Its purpose is to protect seniors from being financially drained by hospital stays, but still pay part of the bill. I doubt that much money is lost on that part of Medicare.

Parts B and D never should've happened. They drive up the costs of routine medical care and pharmaceuticals for seniors. Many seniors are over medicated and get all kinds of tests and screenings when they're not sick because it's part of their coverage. They're listening to doctors who always find something wrong, to be taken care of with medical treatment. I'm all for scrapping parts B and D. Anyone who has lived long enough to be on Medicare should be able to manage their own health and medical care. If they want more coverage, let them pay for it!