What do you think of the proposal to lower the medicare age to 55?

[cynatnite]

When I first heard this I wondered if perhaps it might be a first step to a medicare-for-all type of system. Maybe not a bad idea if a public option isn't in the plan.

So, I would like to know your opinion about this before coming to a conclusion. What do you think?

[lamp_shade]

1. I'm 63, jobless with no health insurance and recently forced to start collecting social security.

I'm therefore all for it.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. It makes some degree of sense...

...considering that a lot of companies effectively force early retirement around that age, and considering that (as of this particular moment) we have little in the way to help those people in terms of health benefits.

Now if only Americans were willing to pay the taxes necessary to fund such a system... But it seems like a lot of people believe that they're never going to get old and never going to get sick.

[DailyGrind51]

3. Where do I sign up?

:thumbsup:

[gateley]

23. Just get in line behind me. nt

[Occam Bandage]

4. A meaningful and real step towards single-payer. nt

[Lex]

24. I hope so! nt

[pnwmom]

5. I think it could be a good first step. After this is in place for a while,

there will be pressure to take the next step and either continue phasing it in or open it up to everybody.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. My thoughts are the same as yours....

:thumbsup:

[elehhhhna]

7. 50 would b better. The number of people who'd retire asap would create open jobs galore

[BrklynLiberal]

12. Sadly, I am not so sure about a retirement wave.

They would still have to pay for this, as well as other bills..

[elehhhhna]

21. I know a lot of couples where one spouse would quit if not for thier jobs

better or only) health insurance.

[BrklynLiberal]

25. I hope you are right...

[tsuki]

15. That was my thought. It would create jobs for those entering the job

market. Many people keep working until they are 65 for the health benefits.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. I like it.

Medicare was supposed to be for everyone, after all...That was the original idea.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. I'm all for it. That way I can retire in a few years at 55 and not have to buy insurance.

[taught_me_patience]

10. It's hard to believe we can pay for this. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

16. Eliminate upper FICA limit...and it will be more than covered...

[lamp_shade]

35. +1 absolutely.

[Warren Stupidity]

37. There is no fica cap on medicare.

So your proposal would divert pension funds to pay for medicare - not a good idea. The way to pay for medicare is to fund it correctly, not to steal from other accounts.

[BrklynLiberal]

39. The how about increasing the Medicare percentage?

[Warren Stupidity]

40. That was my point, sorry for not being clear.

The way to fully fund medicare is to fully fund medicare through appropriate tax rates. The right will seek to thatcherize the program at every step and to pit one group against the other (ss recipients against medicare recipients for example) at every opportunity.

Our job is to insist that funding is appropriate to start with and that it is maintained at appropriate levels.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Very much in favor

It's a win win for Medicare and for 55 year olds who need insurance.

[derby378]

13. If I have to give up any hope of a real public option, then this isn't good enough

Lower the minimum age for Medicare if you wish, but if there's no public option, then there's no health insurance reform.

[femrap]

38. Lower the age for Medicare

but I agree with you....there has to be a Public Option as well.

[damntexdem]

14. Do it yesterday! Last year! Well, right away!

It's the best plan yet -- and a step on the way to a reasonable single-payer approach.

[cliffordu]

17. For my wife, who lost her health care at 35 due to cancer, and has been without

since - she is now 60, it'll be a godsend.

She had massive surgery which took care of the big C...Thank Modern medicine....

[xchrom]

18. it's a good idea on a number of levels.

not the least is what businesses could save from starting to be relived from employer health provided insurance.

[supernova]

19. It's a good first step, especially

if they agree to keep lowering the eligibility age every so often. After all, our original rally cry was "Medicare for All"

[floridablue]

20. It would extend single payer to a huge chunk of the population

Men at 55 are basically not employable in most jobs or professions. It would probably require Doctor's offices to employ Nurse Practitioners such as the one I saw in Florida. One Doctor, 2 practitioners. They are very good and very efficient.

[Lex]

26. Yes, and as someone said above, a good step toward single payer for all. nt

[L0oniX]

22. Totally for it.

[Odin2005]

27. Only if there is something it it for us younger folks.

[Lex]

28. Something to look forward to, Sonny. nt

[kenny blankenship]

32. You can suck on mandates

that's what's in it for you.

[clear eye]

29. Single payer advocates have been suggesting this for years.

It was part of the House bill, HR 676, that was not allowed to come to a vote. You're a little late to the party, but welcome all the same. :hi:

[branders seine]

30. excellent plan, if it was part of reform.

as a stand-alone idea, it doesn't suck.

It won't reform health care, and it's value depends entirely on the cost to those who buy in.

[kenny blankenship]

31. Gee, does this mean that mandates also not won't kick in until age 55?

WHAT ELSE IS IN THE DEAL?? Jesus people- think for a second wilya'?

I think lowering the medicare eligibility limit is a fine idea, but only if everyone facing a mandate to buy insurance can escape to a non-profit national public health plan --which is what Medicare is. Forcing people to buy an insurance product at profit is never a good idea, at any age. That's neither practical nor just. You are WASTING people's hard earned money, money which they earned to keep themselves alive, and awarding it in a criminal bonanza. ARMED ROBBERY is the precise term for this kind of arrangement.

Do people in Canada, France, Britain and Italy have to make it to age 55 before they have access to their country's national health insurance systems?

No? Well then why are Americans so fucking retarded?
N.B. retarded means delayed.

[Warpy]

33. It's overdue by about 30 years

The eligibility should have been lowered 10 years per decade. Insurance companies would be smaller and happier providing Medigap and long term care insurance.

Unfortunately, we got nothing but back to back conservatives who only wanted to preserve the holy for profit insurance industry until it had killed a sufficient number of us that even they had to take notice.

[Warren Stupidity]

34. If we have to wait another 44 years to go down another 10, not a good idea.

On the other hand if this is the crack in the dam, then lets go for it.

[femrap]

36. Since I'm over 55 and I have known about this

possibility for a while, I'm hoping it will be a good first step.

You have no idea how expensive it is to get insurance when you're in your 50's. It goes up every year by an astronomical amount...especially if you're a woman. If you go to the doctor for ANYTHING, the premiums skyrocket. So you just endure.

So many fucking corporations have made people take early retirement and it's so hard to find a decent job that offers decent Health Coverage. Being in Ohio doesn't help matters.

If this passes, it would truly be a blessing for me.

I'm amazed at how my body has started to break down after 50. I exercise and eat a decent diet, but life seems to take a toll. I don't think my hip can last another 9 years. I would be so happy to buy into Medicare.

[intheflow]

41. It ought to be 18.

Or any age where one can prove independence from one's parents.

[Crabby Appleton]

42. I'm for it. nt