Republicans: Let's Privatize Medicare!-Fun little tidbit in the Republican Budget roll out today

[kpete]

Republicans: Let's Privatize Medicare!
By Brian Beutler - April 1, 2009, 1:27PM
One of the fun little tidbits in the Republican Budget roll out today is here:

The substitute gradually converts the current Medicare program into one in which Medicare beneficiaries choose the most affordable coverage that best suits their individual needs. For individuals 55 or older, Medicare will not be changed (other than income-relating the prescription drug benefit): the budget preserves the existing program for these beneficiaries. To make the program sustainable and dependable, those 54 and younger will enroll in a new Medicare Program with health coverage similar to what is now available to Members of Congress and Federal employees.

tee hee & more:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/republicans-lets-privatize-medicare.php

[liberal N proud]

1. Socialize the risk - privatize the profit

The GOP is hell bent on privatizing everything.

[karynnj]

2. The devil there will be in the details

How much would the government pay of the premiums for health coverage similar to what is now available to Members of Congress and Federal employees? As they are doing this to save costs, it is kind of hard to see how they do that - as the single payer Medicare has lower costs. All I can think of, is that the people 54 and under would be paying a larger amount out of pocket. (A transfer from future seniors to the insurance companies.)

Not to mention that it is ironic that what they are proposing for future seniors sounds very like what they demonize as "Obamacare".