Yes, this is less then many pay for their insurance - but factor in that these people paid in advance for 50 years before they could use it.
Then factor that not EVERYONE is going to be using those figures for medical treatment...tho’ everyone paid and pays in...and many died before reaching retirement or soon after - and they pre-paid 50 yrs.
It isn't retirees that are breaking the system. It's the embezzled funds - stolen and given to the druggie, alcoholics and ‘bi-polars and other young, perfectly healthy leaches who get a monthly check with NO deduction for medical on medicaid - and their coverage is FULL. No deductible, no co-pay, office visits and counseling totally covered. The vast majority of these mooches are perfectly able to work.
they choose not too - and no one is doing anything to weed out the able bodied slackers.
How about doing some cutting in these ranks before you come after those that worked and paid for 50 years ahead and now still paying a share?
Except for people who became eligible in 2010. The lowest is now $110 and it scales upward according to your income
I became eligible in June 2010. The deductable is higher for us 2010ers too and the co pay is 20% not $20.00.
In addition, unlike most insurance plans, office visits aren't covered.
When your deductible is met, office visits are covered, just the same as everything else - subject to the 20% co pay.
I've had two office visits since becoming eligible in June 2010, not enough to cover my deductible. Normal office visit at my doc is $75 but they are only allowed to charge what Medicare would normally pay, which my doctors office told me that was $63.99 and that's what I paid for each visit, but I got a statement from Medicare telling me that I was credited towards my co pay $55 for each visit, which means somebody in that office committed a crime by charging me an excess of $8.99 per visit.
I will take that up with the financial division of my doctor's office at the first chance I get.
The laws changed for 2010 and some doctors aren't even aware of it yet.
The first time I showed my card to the receptionist, she said I wasn't eligible for part "B" because there was no "B" after my S.S. number, only an "A". I had to show her right on the card where it says I'm eligible for parts "A" and "B". Actually it says "entitled" to both parts but I don't like to print that word around here.