Medicare reform faces long, partisan fight in conference (More House Less Senate!)

The Washington Times ^ | 06/28/03 | Amy Fagan

[NeoCaveman]

Like the Dodo birds in the movie Ice Age.

Never saw it.

[hobbes1]

They drive themselves into extinction, while preparing to save themselves from extinction via the Ice Age...lol

[hobbes1]

Can you be so oblivious to the fact that if we keep cutting deals in this manner, this country is heading for friggin' fiscal oblivion?

One key difference is that the House bill would go further in reforming Medicare, forcing traditional Medicare to compete directly against the private plans starting in 2010.
.... Mr. Frist thinks there will be some form of means testing in the final bill as well.

Means Testing...Private Sector Competition....As I was saying....

[dirtboy]

Means Testing...Private Sector Competition....As I was saying....

Yeah, and when 2010 rolls around, the seniors will be screaming at Congress to forgo privatization, and Congress will listen. Best to not even create this entitlement in the first place.

[hobbes1]

Mediscare is already there. The Phrase Trojan Horse comes to mind.



The Drugs were going to get done one way or another....The same is not true, for forced competition, and means testing.

[rwfromkansas]

I wonder why none of the attackers bothered to mention this:

"One key difference is that the House bill would go further in reforming Medicare, forcing traditional Medicare to compete directly against the private plans starting in 2010."

Nice. I wasn't a big fan of the bill, but I can support it a little easier with this. This is a conservative addition in the bill.

[rwfromkansas]

I doubt you would say that if we were spending it on the military.

[rwfromkansas]

Good point about the inconsistency with tax cuts.

I read that in disbelief....I can't fathom why these morons are opposing giving less govt. help to the rich when they scream about tax cuts for the rich all the time.

Somebody help me out here.

[rwfromkansas]

Likely the Senate will push for it to be higher, which I am fine with. In conference I would go for $100,000 if that is what it would take to get agreement on competition in 2010.

[hobbes1]

Because it is all about control of the money, and the increased ability to buy votes.....

[NittanyLion]

I doubt you would say that if we were spending it on the military.

You're right. Of course, the military is a legitimate function of government, unlike handouts to senior citizens.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" As they retire, and means testing is implemented, you begin to change the nature of Medicare, from an entitlement, to a social saftey net.

That is far more conservative than leaving it alone...."

So much common sense and calm discussion on this thread about an extremely complex and emotional issue.I wish Rush had not demagogued the issue,that tactic brought nothing to the table ,but,mass hysteria among some.One of the aspects that I had been thinking about,is how much money is sufficient to have saved to pay for medical needs during retirement.A friend of mine has a mother with Alzheimers, who is in a nursing home.The bill for the home is 4500/month,which the family pays out of the mother's life savings of 100,000.She did not have any private health insurance.That will be gone within 2 years and then Medicare will start kicking in,deducting their premiums from the Mom's Social Security check.Another friends grandmother lived for 10 years in a nursing home.I'm beginning to think a couple of hundred thousand, at a minimum for a couple,might be required to be medically self sufficient during the potential 30 years of retirement.And if a senior is not taking Medicare,they are going to have to pay the full freight at the doctor and hospital,not getting the discounted rates they get now.Of course, with private insurance the numbers will change,but,I am sure the premiums will be hefty.

[hobbes1]

And the needing to save for retirement, enhances the Argument for taking Socialist Secuity private....

Means testing for Medicare, pushing for Privatization, and Private Retirement funding as the Norm, instead of government generational transfer, is far sounder economically, and far more Moral, and American.

[cajungirl]

Interesting that the people making over 60k a year in retirement will scream,,they wanta preserve their capital for their kids. I personally favor medicare accounts. You get what you need in life and pay it back at death. Like a big account that the govt keeps, like social security, and the settlement happens at death. Nothing fries me more than seeing my boomer friends doing all sorts of machinations for the govt to pick up their parents bills, nursing home, etc so they get to keep a maximum estate. It just seems so wrong to me.