2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHillary's statement about Medicare's 50th birthday isn't good enough...
It isn't enough to simply "defend" Medicare. It isn't good enough to vow to "protect" Medicare against Republican efforts to privatize it and turn it into a voucher program. The position held by President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and other establishment Democrats is just a band-aid solution to a festering wound. Even under the Affordable Care Act, over 30 million Americans remain uninsured or underinsured. Medical bankruptcies will continue to plague many, many Americans who can afford to purchase health insurance but can't afford to use it. Pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. can still charge sky high prices for prescription drugs with impunity, screwing the American public in the process.
The best way to celebrate Medicare's 50th birthday is to not only protect it, but to expand it. We need to expand Medicare to every American under a single-payer, national health insurance system. The Affordable Care Act, while a step in the right direction doesn't go nearly far enough. Medicare-for-all is the only way to cover everyone while substantially controlling healthcare costs. Through a government-financed program, we can guarantee healthcare to every American as a right instead of having it merely be a privilege to those who can afford it.
The AFL-CIO even made single-payer part of its policy agenda. And Bernie Sanders is the only POTUS candidate vowing to fight for single-payer healthcare.
cocainecowboy
(45 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)work with.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)haikugal
(6,476 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)There is premiums on Medicare Part B of $105 monthly and it only pays about 80% of medical care and some things it does not cover. Many are on Advantage plans or pays for extra coverage which can run $200 and up every month. It isn't free.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)for taking Medicare money. I found that out with my late husband the hard way.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)Not cool. You are presenting a very old Republican talking point that medical care providers are the same as insurance companies.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Accept an Medicare advantage plan. AARP advertises all the time and so does others. I have an additional policy, Medicare only pays 80%, the Advantage plans pays more but there is still a $35 co pay for a specialists.
DesertFlower
(11,649 posts)my mom was one of them.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)a disease or trip to the ER that they won't pay for. Then you find out that you gave up your Medicare coverage when you signed up with them. It happened to my husband. I've had traditional Medicare for ten years now and I've never been refused anything that is covered and if Medicare approves, the the co-insurance has to pay.
DesertFlower
(11,649 posts)CEO's make a ridiculous amount.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)DesertFlower
(11,649 posts)CEO's should be paid less.
$15 an hour is $600 a week or $30,000 a year. that's not a lot of money especially if you live in NYC or LA.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/06/09/14912/skyrocketing-salaries-health-insurance-ceos
the above link is one of many about how much health insurance CEO's make.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Myself, it is nice.
DesertFlower
(11,649 posts)costs $59.80 a month but has a deductible. the important thing to me when i chose a plan was the maximum out of pocket per year. mine is $4800. at least i know i won't lose my house.
my friends who see a lot of docs pay $710 a month with their supplemental plan. before medicare they paid $720 a month through her employer.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)DesertFlower
(11,649 posts)do you know what it is?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)my doctors visits or other health care this year. The policy is $209 monthly.
DesertFlower
(11,649 posts)a max out of pocket. if not you could lose everything if you had a serious illness.
did you see the movie Sicko?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)and this is the reason I did a lot of research before choosing this one. I have had medical treatments this year starting the first week. I have not had any thing to pay. I do not have a deductible $0 deductible. BTW, I know what a $0 deductible, no out of pocket. If Medicare covers the treatment, then the insurance pays.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)dental and vision, at least in part.
My Advantage plan does not cost me any extra.
I'm rather surprised at how much less I pay out of pocket than I used to.
moobu2
(4,822 posts)look how hard it was for Obama just to get Obamacare through. They aren't dictators. Just remember it's easy to make promises.
DesertFlower
(11,649 posts)even with a democratic congress he'll have to deal with special interests. remember how hard it was for obama to get ACA. why? he appointed max baucus who was getting enormous amounts from the health care industry. he couldn't even get the public option through.
https://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2009/06/22/the-max-baucus-health-care-lobbyist-complex/
bravenak
(34,648 posts)riversedge
(70,464 posts)and if Medicare for ALL passes as I am sure the Repubs will bring law suits.