U.S president wants to slug rich for Medicare

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=327984

President George Bush has proposed higher premiums for individuals earning more than $82,000 a year, to pay for their Medicare drug benefits.

He belives Federal subsidies for drugs should be reduced for people with incomes over the threshold figure.

If the move is accepted by the Democrats, a projected $3.2 billion could be saved over five years.

Medicare, the U.S. health insurance program for low income earners, the elderly and disabled, has 44 million beneficiaries.
more...

What about the corporations paying some too???

[DaveJ]

1. $82k isn't rich, it's barely middle class.

Dems want to tax actual rich people make over $200k. Of course Bush just wants to fund his lobbyists.

[DURHAM D]

3. I am sorry but an 80 or 90 year old individual who earns more than

$82K a year can afford to pay more for medicine.

Same with part B.

[JCMach1]

10. Exactly!

[MedleyMisty]

6. It's rich as hell to me

More money than I'll ever see in my life.

[dysfunctional press]

8. bullshit- this in reference to people on medicaid...

any retiree with an income of 82K is doing pretty goddamn well for themselves.

[DaveJ]

11. I stand semi-corrected... Mainly due to the number of corrections...

I still believe 82K is barely middle class. For a comfortable life, 100k+ is needed.

But my idea of someone who is rich is someone who has a home, one that they can call their own. My wife and I are not at, but near, the 82K mark, and due to decades of low paying jobs, and bills we have to repay, it will take decades more before it is even conceivable to own a home.

200K+ plus is rich to me, because it is enough that anyone can pay off any reasonable debt, and go on to get what they want int life.

Due to the number of people who think 70K or so is doing well, though, I'm willing to pay more in taxes. And we do. And I am willing to pay more. So, fine, 82k+ earners should pay a little more in taxes, but it is not 'rich'.

[cbayer]

2. This is possibly the worst bill ever written, ever.

It needs to be completely repealed and we need to start over.

[Frances]

5. The drug plan mainly benefits the drug companies

I agree that the bill should be completely redone.

[dysfunctional press]

9. i'm disabled, retired and on medicare...

and i refuse to sign up for the program.

we need single-payer universal coverage for everyone, and i'm waiting for that.

[nancyr]

4. Drug subsidies?

People who earn that much don't receive subsidies for drugs anyway. Medicare drug subsidies are for the truly poor and needy. I live on a fraction of that amount, and I do not qualify for subsidies. I can guarantee you that a person must be practically destitute to receive a subsidy in the first place.

[cbayer]

7. Sorry nancyr, you need to talk to someone at Medicare.

If you are receiving Medicare, you are absolutely entitled to a drug benefit under Part D. No matter how much you make. Before this bill, you had to qualify for Medicaid to get a drug benefit. And you are right, you had to be destitute to get that. But this is a whole different program.

[AlCzervik]

12. how about being able to negotiate drug prices? How much $$$ is big Pharma

making off the prescription drug benefit?

[bemildred]

13. This is all just throwing fuel on the fire with government regulation of cost and access. nt