Ramping up the fear mongering- "Medicare could run out of money sooner than previously predicted"

By Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times
May 14, 2011
Reporting from Washington— Highlighting the financial peril confronting Medicare, the federal government predicted Friday that the program's largest trust fund would run out of money in 2024, five years earlier than projected last year.

Medicare's deteriorating condition contrasts with Social Security, whose funds will not be exhausted until 2036, according to an annual report by trustees who oversee the two mammoth entitlement programs.

The faltering Medicare finances — caused in part by the sluggish economy — are expected to intensify pressure on both parties in Washington to move forcefully to shore up the health plan that covers care for more than 47 million elderly and disabled Americans.

"Americans are living longer, and healthcare costs are continuing to rise. And if we do not do more to contain the rate of growth in healthcare costs, then our commitments will become unsustainable," said Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, chairman of the board of trustees.


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http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-social-security-medicare-20110514,0,6463983.story

Hey timmy, I know how to sustain it- tax the living f*** out of your bankster and hedge fund buddies. Change we can all count on!

the "fear factor" was perfectly "on que".

That is but one of the only three choices they (we) have.

Age should not be a factor in this. It's the haves versus the have nots.

Most taxes are a direct transfer of $ from young people, who have fewer resources, to more affluent elderly people.

tax the millionaires and billionaires

that Social Security is going to run out of money sooner than predicted.

They are in full scare mode as they try to figure out a way to siphon off the last thing of any value in this country. I am sickened at the harm their greed causes.