To Reduce Deficit, Government Can Destroy Medicare – or Expand It

[slipslidingaway]

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/04/05/to-reduce-deficit-government-can-destroy-medicare-or-expand-it/

There are two very simple, straight forward things you can do with Medicare if you want to make a big reduction in the deficit: you can either destroy Medicare, or vastly expand it.

...Alternately, since Medicare is dramatically more cost effective than private health insurance, government could significantly reduce the deficit by expanding this proven program. Just allowing people in the new health care reform exchanges to buy into a Medicare-run insurance plan would save over a $100 billion. In addition, given that health insurance is such a big expense for businesses, allowing the private sector to buy Medicare instead of private insurance would result in higher wages, more employees hired, and/or larger profits. All of which would generate substantial tax revenue for the government.

If the Washington took expanding Medicare one step further and turned it into a real, working, single-payer system, like that available in much of the first world, it could reduce costs so much it would effectively eliminate our entire deficit problem.

...If it ever came to a battle between plans to kill or expand Medicare, it would be a political bloodbath. On one side, Republican saying the best way to reduce the deficit is to destroy the popular Medicare program, and, on the other side, Democrats making the unequivocal counter argument that the best way to reduce the deficit is to let more people have access to Medicare.

Sadly after watching how terribly Democrats messed up health care reform and the public option debate, I doubt America will get this dream showdown–despite Ryan offering it to Democrats on a silver platter..."

[MannyGoldstein]

1. "Make no mistake... this is a historical moment

to stabilize up this uniquely American institution by giving taxpayer money to private insurers.

Hey... who the &$%# else ya gonna vote for, chump?"

[slipslidingaway]

3. Yes, it is as if the boomers just crept up on us ...

who could have known.

And there are only two choices in the election, so ...

:(

They're Winning - Private insurance companies push for 'individual mandate'
Jul 16th 2009

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/slipslidingaway/11

"...The industry's real trouble begins in 2011, when 79 million baby boomers begin turning 65. Health insurers stand to lose a huge slice of their commercially insured enrollment (estimated at 162 million to 172 million people) over the next two decades to Medicare, the government-funded health insurance program for seniors..."


Uniquely American Solution - What is it ? Why is it being pushed?
Wed Aug-12-09

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/slipslidingaway/63

Is the goal of the "uniquely American solution" to keep the private health care companies in business and protect their profits? It is not just the Democrats that are using the phrase, Karen Ignagni of AHIP wrote an article in April.

[liberal life]

2. Yes we must abolish insurance nationally like Vermont has done.

This is the way to fix the deficit. This is the way to fix all state budgets.



http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[slipslidingaway]

5. Vermont still has a long way to go and will never be as efficient ...

but it is a step, unfortunately boomers start to retire this year and the impact they have on Medicare starts now.

Dems had a perfect opportunity to advance UHC, it was lost, so now we'll hear more about cutting Medicare.

:(

Vermont's single payer proposal - listen to William Hsiao
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2011/march/vermonts-single-payer-proposal-listen-to-william-hsiao

[phiddle]

4. Step 1: Medicare buy in at cost + 10%

It would strengthen Medicare's finances and function as a public option to hold practices and premiums in check in the for-profit health insurance industry.

[slipslidingaway]

6. But the Dems are not proposing that ...

we just passed an "historic" HC bill, doubtful it will be taken up again anytime soon.

[phiddle]

7. So let's elect some democratic Democrats

[slipslidingaway]

8. Easier said than done with the corporate media and control of debates ...

firmly in the hands of the party elite.

The problem is happenning now, the time to change this was a couple of years ago, now there will possibly be some tough choices for those under 55 ... IMHO.

Boomers plus advances in medicine ... who could have known it would strain the system.

:mad:

[slipslidingaway]

9. kick n/t

[ProSense]

10. "To Reduce Deficit, Government Can Destroy Medicare "

Another compellingly stupid argument.

How does destroying Medicare reduce the deficit?

[slipslidingaway]

11. Obama - "the long-term problem is entitlements.” “Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid" ...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49011.html#ixzz1DNQz09xA

Obviously both are talking about the long term debt.