Raising Medicare age would produce 'surprising ripple effects'

[applegrove]

Raising Medicare age would produce 'surprising ripple effects'

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/06/4467229/raising-medicare-age-would-produce.html?storylink=addthis#.UMGEuWh_Dg0.reddit

"SNIP.........................................

WASHINGTON -- Americans are living longer, and Republicans want to raise the Medicare eligibility age as part of any deal to reduce the government's huge deficits.

But what sounds like a prudent sacrifice for an aging society that must watch its budget could have surprising consequences, including higher premiums for people on Medicare.

Unlike tax hikes, which lead to hard partisan divisions, increasing the Medicare age could help ease a budget compromise because President Barack Obama has been willing to consider it.

A worried AARP, the seniors' lobby, is already running ads knocking down the idea as a short-term fix with long-term problems. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California doesn't like it either.


.......................................SNIP"

[Coyotl]

1. Yeah, like sick people dying!

Really looking forward to that!

[wryter2000]

2. If Obama's considering this, he's a fool

I sure hope he isn't a fool.

[senseandsensibility]

3. Me,too.

I know he's not a fool, but I worry that he doesn't have any progressive voices around him.

[Raine]

5. If he does this, I will really be MAD! nt

[animato]

4. Ezra Klein says he has the numbers - right now on MSNBC

He's sitting in for Maddow and says he doesn't favor raising the age for eligibility.

[Oilwellian]

6. The article starts off with the big lie

"Americans are living longer" is a blatant lie used to sell this steaming pile of shit. I wish the media would stop repeating what they're told and start asking these fuckers some tough questions.

[applegrove]

7. People are living much longer. Not the poor. But the middle class and the rich.

We need to tax the rich more to make up the difference.