Republicans in Congress get earful on Medicare

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by noonereal

so then you support raising taxes to pay for grandma?

I think the big thing is the cost of medical care during the waning years of life, coupled with the aging demographic. As long as the GOP demagogues the whole "death panel" thing, nothing meaningful can be accomplished.

[whell]

Originally Posted by noonereal

so then you support raising taxes to pay for grandma?

To me, that logic is akin to spending hundreds of dollars a year on candles when I can instead install a light fixture. It makes no sense. Why not change the system so that grandma has other options that might make more sense?

[Fast_Eddie]

Originally Posted by whell

Bernie Madoff went to jail for running pretty much the same "pyramid scheme" program that the US Gov't is running with Social Security and Medicare. Let's fix the dam before it bursts.

What's Social Security got to do with anything? And what about it needs "fixed"?

[merrylander]

Yet I pay $1150 a year for a flu shot and I am sure I am not alone. Maybe if they told Big Pharma that in future they will cut their prices in half things might be better.

[whell]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Yet I pay $1150 a year for a flu shot and I am sure I am not alone. Maybe if they told Big Pharma that in future they will cut their prices in half things might be better.

Flu shots are under $40 at the pharmacies and medical clinics in my neighborhood. Why so expensive there?

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by whell

Flu shots are under $40 at the pharmacies and medical clinics in my neighborhood. Why so expensive there?

Medicare pays for my flu shot, the $1150 is what they deduct from my SS payment for Medicare A and B. So I am sure I am not the only healthy person paying that amount.

I spent some time in the insurance business, yes kiddies FICA is Federal Insurance Contribution Act, so it should work like insurance and have has actuaries calculate the premiums. If our house burns down tomorrow Allstate is going to pay a bunch more than they have received so far.

Similarly John Doe pays FICA for 40 years then retires and starts to collect. But poor John has no hobbies or interests and dies two years later. Believe me it does happen I have seen many coworkers do just that. So he contributed a lot more that he took out. This is why insurance companies employ actuaries, if the government does not blame Congress.

[piece-itpete]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I think the big thing is the cost of medical care during the waning years of life, coupled with the aging demographic. As long as the GOP demagogues the whole "death panel" thing, nothing meaningful can be accomplished.

You mean, like 'killing grandma'?

Originally Posted by finnbow

The trouble is that Grandma and her family are willing to spend any amount of someone else's money to increase the odds of her living another 6 months.

We sure agree on that! I think we need to make a tough decision - X amount and no more.

Originally Posted by whell

True enough, and the politicians continue to talk about Medicare as if it's a God-given right to spend that money.

But it is! Not only their right, but their duty to spend our money.

.-.-.-.

Amazing story Blue, thanks for sharing. I have the same setup but did not go through your ordeal.

Pete

[piece-itpete]

99 tril in unfunded liabilities. Scary.

Pete

[d-ray657]

I'm sure those numbers, in addition to taking into account the aging population, also assume an increase in the prices of the goods and services purchased through medicare. I seem to remember a Republican who was president during my lifetime who imposed price controls. I would imagine that the largest consumer of medical goods and services could consider something similar.

Regards,

D-Ray

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

I'm sure those numbers, in addition to taking into account the aging population, also assume an increase in the prices of the goods and services purchased through medicare. I seem to remember a Republican who was president during my lifetime who imposed price controls. I would imagine that the largest consumer of medical goods and services could consider something similar.

Regards,

D-Ray

Medicare never pays what the doctors charge, we had a specialist try and charge $11,000 for outpatient surgery on Florence's finger. Medicare as good as told him to get stuffed. Then our supplemental insurance picked up what medicare did not, but the balkance of what medicare said the surgery was worth.