This Medicare thing in the healthcare reform bill could be VERY good news for single-payer advocates

[Pushed To The Left]

I was disappointed in the apparent removal of the public option too, but the Medicare expansion could lead to something we progressives have been wanting for a long time! From the article (in quotes):

"A provision opening Medicare to uninsured Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 drew praise from some liberals.

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., called it "an unvarnished, complete victory for people like me who have been arguing for a single-payer system.""

Think about it: If the expansion of Medicare to people between 55 and 64 is a success, that could lead to an expansion of it to other groups. If it gets expanded to everybody, you've got single-payer aka "Medicare for ALL"!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091210/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

[tblue]

1. But you can't get it if you have any insurance already, even tho you're age 55.

In other words, it's not a real 'option,' tho it is a safety net. But I'm trying to see the good in this thing.

[Pushed To The Left]

3. Definitely not perfect, but if successful it could increase public support for Medicare For All

Senator Weiner seems pretty enthusiastic about it.

[Oregone]

6. Have those details emerged yet?

Not that I doubt itll be loaded with total shit, but there is little to go on so far

[jtrockville]

7. If I were 55, I'd be writing to my employer's CEO begging them

to stop picking a health insurance company for us. In fact, if that ends up being criteria for public option eligibility, I will still request this of my employer.

[vaberella]

8. Are you just talking or do you have supporting evidence? No details have come out yet. n/t

[tblue]

15. Dana Milbank on Stephanie Miller this morning. nt

[vaberella]

16. Naw, that's not enough evidence.

Too many reporters have too many contradicting information and questionable informants. I need to hear it from the guys who are directly invovled.

[dflprincess]

2. And we're not being told what it will cost to buy in at 55

If it's only open to those who can't get other insurance, odds are the people who do pick it up will be higher risk/higher cost patients and that will only drive the cost up in the long run.

If any kind of single payer or public option is going to succeed it must be open to everyone - and younger, healthier, lower cost people need to be encouraged to pick that up that option.

[Indenturedebtor]

13. Well then it wouldn't be a sop to the insurance companies

All non-Boomers are required to buy insurance, AND required to pay for the sickest boomers so that the insurance companies don't have to.

How nice.

[dflprincess]

20. I have the good fortune to be a healthy boomer

so I'll be paying for my non-healty brethren as well.

From the very little I've picked up, buying into Medicare for those of us between 55 & 65 will not be cheap. People in that age range will be paying a premium for it that will be comparable to private policies - they won't just get to sign up for it and pay the kind of premiums those 65+ pay for it.

It also sounds like only those who can't get insurance elsewhere will be eligible. Those of us on employer based plans will continue to pay the private companies.

By only allowing the higher risk/higher cost people into Medicare they are risking Medicare's survival. It sounds like it's just another part of the scam that will eventually allow them to claim that "government" plans don't work.

[Indenturedebtor]

21. That last sentence is certainly the end game...

Blech. This is an insurance company ploy that our corporate shill representatives are trying to pass off as a victory. I'm so disgusted with our government.

[andym]

4. I agree and I am very surprised that it appears to be acceptable to conservative Dems

I think the reason Joe Lieberman so hates the public option is that it could lead to single-payer. But an expansion of Medicare (breaking the age barrier) is much more likely to lead to single-payer I believe.

[quakerboy]

5. Only if it is allowed to be successfull

And do you think they will allow that?

The only good news we have gotten is apocryphal at this point. If we make things bad enough, the revolution will tip over any number of carts and change any number of things. That's not my preferred method of getting out of this mess, though.

[kestrel91316]

9. 55-64 is an age group that tends to have lots of "pre-existing conditions",

and the coverage tends to be VERY expensive. So this is a good deal, IMHO, and will see a lot of the currently uninsured get decent coverage.

And yes, by expanding Medicare for this age group now, it will be that much easier to convince people to expand it to younger people later. Eventually everyone is on Medicare.

[femrap]

10. I just read that a 62 to 64 year old

would have to pay $630 per MONTH for Medicare.

This is crazy.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :puke: :puke: :puke: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :argh: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[KrR]

14. Umm thats just Politico BS.... n/t

[femrap]

18. I heard this on CBS evening news last

night. I can't remember who provided the 'estimate,' but I'm sure the Insurance Boyz would insist that their Political Minions make it a high premium.

I wish I had been born in France.

[philly_bob]

11. REC Hoping that this is true.

I just switched from private insurance to Medicare (when I turned 65) and Medicare just speaks for itself. Medicare for the uninsured over 55 is a first step.

With those conserva-Dems bought by health insurance money -- not to speak of the obstructionist Republicans -- we got to compromise. And I'm hoping this is a smart compromise, outflanking the Republican idiots...

[kenny blankenship]

12. Not if you don't live to see it.

Which you won't.

[eridani]

17. Not if you have to pay $800 a,month for it n/t

[Clear Blue Sky]

19. And if you can't find a doctor taking on new Medicare patients...?

[Tailormyst]

22. It's very good news for the health insurance companies.

It means alot more profit for them by dumping off clients that cost them more onto the tax payer. They won't lower rates, they will buy more big yachts.