Democrats roll out bill to let Americans buy into Medicare at 50

The Washington Times ^ | February 13, 2019 | Tom Howell Jr.

[Sacajaweau]

When Medicare started (1965), it cost $3 a month for retirees at age 65.....maybe 2 hours of wages.

Now it's $135 a month for Part B and you still have to buy an advantage plan cuz only about 80% is covered and then add in Drugs.

It was a good deal when it started. Costs are now ridiculous.

[roadcat]

Raising tax marginal rates always ends up REDUCING federal tax receipts and slowing the economy. BAD BAD IDEA.

Yes it is. But democrats always raise taxes. When there is a budget crisis, the call goes out to cut department budgets. Not all departments, just select ones. These departments then proceed to make cuts that appear on paper to reduce costs, but that is fake. They cut unfilled positions, when they already previously requested more positions that required for the work. Those unfilled positions are left vacant until it is necessary to "slash" their costs. Other "cost savings" are from unnecessary expenditures (travel budgets etc. for unnecessary excursions). And so on.

Whenever there is a "crisis", taxes and fees are raised. Whenever there is a surplus, it is spent rather than lower taxes or fix failing infrastructure. At other times, departments always ask for far more money than they want, and then receive more than they actually needed.

Of course we know raising taxes is a bad idea, but it is what democrat "leaders" do. The only solution is to elect leaders like Donald Trump who want to drain the swamp.

[sparklite2]

And yet the number of people who think Medicare is some kind of welfare is disturbingly high.

[alternatives?]

Can stay on parent’s policy until 26, Medicare at 50. Not much between.

[gogeo]

Key Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday that would allow people 50 and older to buy into Medicare, saying it’s an incremental step to universal coverage that’s stage-ready and easier to pass than more ambitious liberal plans.

Amazing. Inadvertent honesty.

[trebb]

“Medicare is the best ‘public option’ that already exists,” he said.

And this will turn it into that which they are trying to 'save" people from...it's akin to letting folks who have put very little into social security opting in to getting full benefits at age 50...