The Hill: Ryan open to making Medicare plan optional

[flpoljunkie]

Hmmm. Looks like the Republican leadership has had a little talk with 'Young Gun, Ayn Rand' disciple Paul Ryan.

Ryan open to making Medicare plan optional

By Erik Wasson - 06/16/11

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday that he is open to reforming Medicare in a way that would still leave traditional fee-for-service Medicare as an option for future seniors.

Such an option-based reform could eventually emerge as a compromise way to prevent Medicare’s projected bankruptcy in 13 years.

Ryan, speaking at a policy discussion hosted by The Hill and sponsored by No American Debt, an advocacy group, said that he has all along been open to an option version of his controversial Medicare plan, which Democrats have seized upon as a campaign issue.

“I have always said all along all of those ideas are ideas we should be considering when it comes to legislation,” he said. “When you are down in the details, should there be a fee-for-service option alongside premium support ... they are all good ideas.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/medicare/166829-ryan-open-to-making-medicare-plan-optional

[Enrique]

1. omg what terrible reporting

"Such an option-based reform could eventually emerge as a compromise way to prevent Medicare’s projected bankruptcy in 13 years."

what a load of crap!!!!!! The Hill is reporting the GOP's transparent Big Lie about their motiviations as a FACT!!! The GOP of course has always hated Medicare, they are trying to kill it, not save it.

[karynnj]

2. Not to mention - where is the long term logic?

Even at the point where the premium was supposed to start in Ryan's plan, the voucher was LESS than the cost of Medicare - otherwise there would be NO savings. Not to mention, Medicare had far lower administrative costs (and no marketing costs), meaning that a premium that did everything Medicare did would cost about 20% more.

Now, imagine they make it optional. If seniors then are given the choice - Medicare or a voucher that will, on average, cause them to pay something like 180,000 over the rest of their life more - what would they chose? Other than the Paul Ryan fan club.

In addition, there could be a worst case, there could be a low cost private plan that has huge costs if you actually get seriously ill that had some attractive incentive (I have no idea) that will cause only currently healthy people to take it - leaving Medicare with only the sicker people (and the prudent). This would have the affect of transferring more money to the insurance companies than the "costs" they move out of Medicare.