GOP senators unveil new Medicare overhaul plan

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/16/national/w000309S48.DTL&type=politics

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press

Associated Press February 16, 2012 10:34 AM Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

(02-16) 10:34 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

Two Republican senators unveiled a Medicare overhaul Thursday that features an accelerated transition to private health insurance for many seniors, a gradual increase in the eligibility age, and higher premiums for middle-class and upper-income retirees.

Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Richard Burr of North Carolina say they're not out to win a political popularity contest. Instead, they want to engage fellow policymakers and the public in a "grown-up" conversation about the scope of changes needed to preserve Medicare in some form for future generations.

[Vincardog]

1. This "Grown-Up" suggests we lower the MediCare eligibility age 10 years every 10 years until every

American is covered. We fund it with a Financial Transaction Tax of .0001% of every trade made on the Stock Market, Derivatives,
And ALL speculation. WE should also eliminate the SS cap and apply it to all income over the first $250,000/ yr.
That would preserve both Medicare and SS for future generation.

[libtodeath]

2. Get the capital gains

tax at 90% for all that is not put back into the economy.
You hoard it,you pay.

[Johonny]

3. not out to win a political popularity

translates to: sure people will die as a result, but the dead ones won't vote.

[msongs]

4. personally I believe Medicare for All would be a winner for dems, but they disagree nt

[spin]

5. We have the most expensive healthcare in the world....

and it's far from the best. There is no excuse for a nation as advanced as ours to have such an expensive system that fails to provide care for many people.

I had great hopes when Obama and Democrats controlled both houses of Congress that our nation would finally get a healthcare system that would provide quality care for all. What emerged appears to be a system that guarantees profit for the healthcare industry while offering little improvement in overall care.

Hopefully time will prove me wrong. I may just need to develop more patience.