How is that going to be affordable?
> How is that going to be affordable? <
I don’t understand it either. If you opt out of Medicare Part A, where does the money come from for you to buy alternative coverage?
And here’s another thing. The article implies that (previously) if you opted out of Medicare Part A, you would lose your social security benefits. That seems mighty odd. But these are federal programs. So I suppose anything is possible.
It all depends on whether you want to go outside the Medicare system and pay on your own. For some people, they have the means to do just that and they value personalized, private non-government regulated care. I think others are fearful that the new national patient government ID will enable more government surveillance over their personal medical records.
If you want to stay in the Medicare system, there is no change.
It’s about freedom to choose your healthcare without losing your SS benefits that you paid into. This isn’t a government hand-out.
If you want affordability, you need to get rid of these government healthcare systems in which people pay a relatively low percentage of the overall cost out of pocket.
If people has to pay for more of their healthcare expenses directly you would have more price transparency and competition based on price and quality. The problems is that there would be enormous upheaval in the transition to such a system.
Under PDJT, the SS fund is not being robbed! All previous admins stole the money paid in and used it like a slush fund.
Seniors already pay for Part B each month. Most people don’t understand that seniors already pay for secondary insurance. It’s taken out of their SS check.
The only thing Medicare pays for is 80% of the hospital stay bill. Doctors etc. are extra. Tests are extra, and there is still a co-pay. Don’t quote me on this, but I think the secondary is $134 per month. The rate keeps going up.
Seniors got a pay raise, but the increase in the secondary took that raise away.
In addition, the another backup needed, like AARP, costs even more. It isn’t a free ride by any means. It is helpful, but some can’t pay that 20% on extended stay, nor the co-pays associated with surgery and treatment.
I read somewhere that they would allow those who had medical benefits with the companies when they retire to keep the insurance instead of being forced to take part A as the primary.