Do I have this right about Medicare @55?

[hootinholler]

Ok, so in order to get some semblance of health insurance passed, we are taking the most costly group in the country, removing them from the private insurance pool and putting them into the Medicare pool. Then we're going to require everyone else to buy insurance.

It seems to me that this approach will pass because it is very profitable to the insurance industry. It has the added bonus of stressing Medicare funding so the Republican position can be Medicare for all? We can't even pay for the current pool.

I believe it is a step forward, but I ask is this the best deal that can be made? From what I've absorbed, we need to get some of the funding from the younger pool into Medicare for it to be truly viable.

-Hoot

[sharesunited]

1. 55'ers eligible for Medicare buy in? Not without pre-existing conditions.

If they can get private insurance, I am under the impression that they will NOT be eligible for the expanded Medicare enrollment.

[SandWalker1984]

2. You've got it right - the insurance corps are going to dump the 55+ into Medicare....

...and most of the Democrats are going to call it health care reform.

My spouse has a valid point - this could be the camel sticking it's nose under the tent to create means testing for Medicare. By purposely not allowing people under 55 access to the program, it will set Medicare up for high expenses, allowing Republicans to claim we need to "fix" Medicare.

[newscott]

3. If by "fixing" you mean "privatizing" then you're on to something.

[doc03]

4. Even worse it sounds like the only ones that will get

to buy into Medicare are people with pre-existing conditions that can't get coverage otherwise. The worst of the worst will be dumped on Medicare that is already broke, this is stupidest idea I have ever heard. I am about to join the Tea Parties.

[kimmerspixelated]

6. Oh no you di'ent!

For real? You disagree with a policy and you go to the other side-just like that?

[doc03]

7. I disagree is putting it mildly, this is crazy. I am 61 and going

to retire in four months, this stupid idea will cause companies to dump our excellent corporate health insurance and dump us on a f----d up bankrupt system. Then I will have to buy Medicare supplement insurance out of pocket. A local spokesman for the AMA said the same thing on the radio this afternoon.

[kimmerspixelated]

8. Don't misunderstand me.

I think the HCR bill is fucked, and just crazy, but I wouldn't join the teabaggers over it. I would try to work for another real reform.

[doc03]

9. How I helped vote those inept bunch of corporate stooges in

office.

[JuniperLea]

11. Bullshit...

you need to read up...

[doc03]

12. Read what? If I read today's BS coming out of Washington

tomorrow it is changed, I think the entire congress D and R need run out of Washington on a rail.

[pnh]

5. 55 is younger than most of them.

This would add funds to medicare without increasing payroll taxes. Even if it starts with the uninsured -- and even if it's people in high risk groups -- high risk doesn't have to mean poorer health or costlier health care. These are people who have/had something that cause insurance companies to think they're too risky -- not necessarily all people the medical community would consider at significantly greater risk than other people. For instance -- insurance companies consider people on the autism spectrum high risk when to my knowledge -- they are not less healthy than people who aren't on the spectrum. In fact -- many of them might be more likely to adhere to good health regimens and doctors' instructions -- yet -- that diagnosis makes them high risk.

So -- if it did lead to insurance companies dropping people at 55 -- it's still younger people going into Medicare -- but putting more money into it while probably needing proportionately less from it -- shoring up Medicare's finances. At the same time -- what you're seeing as being more profitable to insurance companies could also be looked upon as decreasing their costs with a potential for lowering premiums for younger people as well as lessening the incentive to try to drop or exclude sick younger people. Coupled with the requirement that 90% of premiums go toward health care costs -- it seems to me that it could be helpful.

We're not at the end -- yet. What we're seeing as "the end" could be the beginning of something better than we expected. This introduces something new and potentially good to the table. We should start making plans to push during the conference committee for all the good stuff and try to drum up enough public support so that even if some folks feel they must vote no in the end -- public support is so strong they feel they must at least vote for cloture. We just need 60 to bring it to a vote -- we don't need 60 to pass it.

[damntexdem]

10. Those already on Medicare are the most-costly group -- those 65 and over.

Those 55-64 are the most-needy age group not covered. And as 55+ Medicare proves popular, there will be pressure to lower the eligibility age.

[L0oniX]

13. "We can't even pay for the current pool." ...because we spend it all on war.