House Budget Panel Considers Higher Age for Medicare Transition

[Redfairen]

Source: Bloomberg

House Republicans are considering increasing the age at which Americans approaching retirement would be protected from changes in Medicare, one member said today.

Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan promised last year that people age 55 and older would continue to get traditional Medicare, the health-care plan for retirees. People younger than that would be offered subsidies to buy private insurance.

The panel is considering raising that age to 56, said New Jersey Repubican Scott Garrett, a member of the committee.

.......

“With respect to Medicare, House Republicans will again put forward a real solution to protect and strengthen Medicare for current seniors and future generations,’’ Ryan spokesman Will Allison said in an e-mail. “His reforms ensure no changes for those in or near retirement, a sharp contrast to the real harm inflicted on seniors by the president’s health-care law.”

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-05/house-budget-panel-considers-higher-age-for-medicare-transition.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. Let us get rid of Congressional pensions I see need for them

[Coyotl]

4. Congressional pensions are a scandal = feeding yourself first, then noone else

Congress critters should not beed privileged above others. They should be just like any other federal employee, and all federal employees shoulod be treated equally. Even military pensions are scandalous for creating a distinct class of privileged persons, with full pension starting at age 38 or so for many of them. That cost is enormous over time.

[Coyotl]

9. get real

enjoy your short stay Potty person

[Shadowflash]

2. If the plan of giving coupons for health care

was so wonderful, they wouldn't be exempting people that are close. They know it sucks and they know that people that close to retirement would vote them out in a heartbeat if they were not exempt.

The Thugs also believe (and I hope They're wrong!) that the seniors that DO fall into that 55 or older, protected category will have the same 'I've got mine, screw you younger people' attitude that they do.

[upaloopa]

5. We have kids and grand kids we old farts worry about

We don't live in some vacuum.

[hollysmom]

6. hey, some of us

retired fold understand how hard it was to wait until 65. I lost my job before 60 (no one in IT wants to hire an old woman), had to pay for my own insurance, but I was one of the few among my friends who could afford it. I was hoping that most of them would make it to medicare age. I have to call someone now, they just had their first check up in 10 years.

[sakabatou]

3. Not surprised

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. AKA the Ryan plan

This is the number 1 reason I voted against that self entitled asshole Mitt Romney. I'm 55 and would be one of the first affected by this plan.

This is a typical Republican exercise of "Hey look we're actually doing something". It will go nowhere in the Senate.

[Third Doctor]

10. I hope to god the people of Wisconsin

can vote fucking Paul Ryan out of office soon. I can't stand that elititst bastard that has not done a day of hard work in his life and collects a pension and healthcare working people have to pay for.

[AceWheeler]

11. The Irony Is

Folks are living longer, putting a higher financial burdern on Medicare (and Social Security). They are living longer due to advance in medicine, including life prolonging treatment and care (in some cases cure). Older folks can afford this treatment, because they have Medicare. So...raise the age to start Medicare can reduce costs by reducing (a) the number of years older folks draw on Medicare, and (b) the number of people on Medicare (some will die before Medicare starts, because they can't afford insurance and the costs of treatment for life threatening ailments).

And while we're at it. The notion of raising the age for Social Security has a similar problem. Yes, people are living longer, but that does NOT necessarily mean they can work longer. It depends on the nature of the work and what sorts of older-age physical and mental problems emerge for them.

[winstars]

12. "kin hell, I will be 55 this year and thought I was safe from these SCUMBAGS!!

[AmyDeLune]

13. Ah, here we go again...

I figure by the time I hit retirement age, they'll have raised it to "You're Dead".

[shcrane71]

14. In America, we like to see how long the majority of people will delay seeing a doctor.