I do not think you only have a right to health care if you have the money to afford it.

[The Magistrate]

8. I Agree, Ma'am

And it is worth pointing out that 'MediCare for All' is in essence just a sales slogan. The idea is that, because people are mostly satisfied with Medicare, using that name for a program of national health insurance will lend that established goodwill to the proposed reform.

But people ought not make the mistake of thinking Medicare is free. Premiums are paid out of Social Security checks by withholding, just as taxes are drawn from salary checks. These go towards the basic government insurance, which many find necessary to augment by private policies taken on in addition, and at additional cost. If the program were extended to all ages and conditions, monies would have to be collected.

I agree the total would be less than the sums currently paid to private insurers as premiums, but they would still be substantial, and many would still desire and seek additional private insurance. Not even MedicAid is free --- if you know someone who is on SSI or disability, you will find a premium for MedicAid is deducted from the check.



"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."