General Discussion

Control-Z

(15,682 posts)

8. Medicare is not free.

Sun Sep 15, 2019, 02:22 PM

Sep 2019

There is a monthly premium after which it covers 80% of most medical fees. Co-pays are around 20% of your doctor's office visits. There are treatments that are not
currently covered and will likely remain uncovered. Prescription drug coverage is currently inadequate and in need of sound changes. This explanation is a simplified one of the current Medicare system and is in no way comprehensive.

I'm not sure where people got the idea that Medicare is free. It is not.

Medicare is NOT free.

Current costs and out of pocket charges are bound to change though I doubt they will go down. And while these charges may ultimately come out in your taxes they will still be equal to what your premiums and share of costs would be.

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15 replies

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Have a question about Medicare for all [View all] Polybius Sep 2019 OP

The details for all the proposals are unknown at this point, elleng Sep 2019 #1

A 4% premium based on income sounds like a detail to me. Hassin Bin Sober Sep 2019 #6

Because we need to have the choice of the crappy ass employer private insurance Voltaire2 Sep 2019 #11

Depends on the scheme used, your taxes would increase based on a progressive tax structure... Humanist_Activist Sep 2019 #2

I don't mind taxes being increased Polybius Sep 2019 #3

I would imagine it would be from within the FICA taxes we already pay... Humanist_Activist Sep 2019 #5

I believe no copays or deductibles, and $200 total out of pocket drug coverage per year, otherwise vsrazdem Sep 2019 #4

Not free entirely Bev54 Sep 2019 #7

Medicare is not free. Control-Z Sep 2019 #8

Medicare for all is not medicare. Voltaire2 Sep 2019 #10

We all know where people got the idea that Medicare is "free" Leith Sep 2019 #12

Wouldn't that be a selling point?? Control-Z Sep 2019 #13

No Leith Sep 2019 #14

It's free for those making under $14,000 a year Polybius Sep 2019 #15

If you are working you will likely see a higher payroll tax. Voltaire2 Sep 2019 #9