I think we should all give the Medicare buy in serious consideration

[bluestateguy]

This, like the public option, could be the basis for gradually rolling back the age limit for Medicare (55, then 50, then 45, creep, creep, drip, drip) to eventually no age limit for all: Medicare for all. As people see that the world didn't end with lowering the age limit to 55, we gradually lower the bar every time, arguing "see we lowered the age limit down to 55 and everything worked out just fine. Let's lower it down to 50". And so on.

Wasn't the appeal of public option always that it could be the basis for an eventual single payer plan, albeit gradually? This approach could gradually achieve that goal too, AND it's fairer to people who might be 55 years old but living in a Red state that is otherwise "opted out" by Harry Reid's bill.

[scubadude]

1. This is a cream dream for the insurance companies.

Sure, split the oldest off of "private insurance", then mandate it for the young...

Gee, what insurance company wouldn't go for that??? You turned how old? What, you're over 55? It's off to the "public plan" for you!

Scuba

[bluestateguy]

2. If that's true then can we look forward to AHIP supporting that amendment then?

I be waiting for AHIP and Karen Ignagi (gosh what a stupid name) sending out a press release supporting this provision.

[sandnsea]

5. Do we forget we privatized Medicare?

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D are privatized. This shoves all the older empty nesters and their higher premiums into one plan, people with money to pay increased costs, saves Medicare while shoveling tons of money into insurance and phrma.

Meantime, the younger people have the mandate and will have no choice but private insurance because we wouldn't want them to get the idea that government coverage can work.

Insurance wins all the way around.

This is so stupid.

[Skip Intro]

3. What about the uninsured who are 35 or 45 now?

[BeatleBoot]

8. You mean the one's unemployed and can't get insurance

Or those 35 - 45 who can only find subcontracting work because their jobs were shipped to India and they can't afford to buy insurance

Or the one's who are 35 - 45 who can only find subcontracting work because their jobs were shipped to India and they can't get insurance because of a pre-existing condition.

Congress is counting on us not being pissed off.

If that's their bet, we have all lost.

[roamer65]

4. We should allow everyone, regardless of age, to buy into Medicare.

..and if you can't afford to pay, it should be available at no cost.

[TomClash]

6. Herd the old and the sick

And exclude the young. What do the uninsured young do? Oh yeah, they have to buy mandatory private insurance. Thanks.

Plus I suspect individuals 55-65 will have to pay premiums to obtain Medicare. For most people with more modest incomes, is that really better than going to the emergency room, no matter what the "subsidy" is?

The fix is in. I see higher premiums with more profit. You'll get your health care as long as you pay though the nose.

[European Socialist]

7. I'm 56 --I like it--Not fair to younger people probably....

even though getting rid of us old fogeys might reduce rates for others.

[roamer65]

9. I'm only 10 years out.

I agree with you. If they pass it, I can then have Medicare when I start drawing Social Security at 62.

[BeatleBoot]

10. When have you ever heard of a "for profit" drop their price?

Especially this lot called the Insurance Industry?

The only way they will drop rates for those who have to buy it is through competition.

And guess what?

They are exempt from being broken up if they are a monopoly - exempt from competition.

Fuck this. I am fuming.

[Neecy]

11. I heard today

That it probably won't even be available for 55+ if you're already covered by your employer, so the numbers that this 'concession' will cover will be extremely small anyway. Not one bit of competition to the Insurance industry, not even as much as the weak public option.

[European Socialist]

14. It will probably be a bad deal for everyone except the Health care

industry by the time they get done with it. Too bad Obama didn't like his own plan enough to fight for it.

[roamer65]

12. Prediction: Businesses will offer paying Medicare premiums for those employees 55 and above.

It will be a lot cheaper than private insurance.

[backscatter712]

13. Agreed, this Medicare buy-in proposal has merit.

They'd better throw a good sized bone to younger people though...

I'd recommend strengthening the regulation of insurers significantly - I'm worried that cost control's being thrown out the window.

[roamer65]

15. They should be highly regulated.

If we offer Medicare at 55+, then health insurance providers should have to go to before public health service comissions for rate increases...just like utilities.

[roamer65]

16. It will be easier in the near future to get the age limit dropped.

50...then 45...then 40...then no age limit.

We then can focus all of our efforts on geting the age limit dropped and providing funding to make it available at no cost.