MY THOUGHTS ARE DIFFERENT THEN MOST ON MEDICARE
Since I turn 65 on December 19, 2012 I have started my Medicare coverage on December 1, 2012. I have been covered by health insurance through my wife's employer for about $400 per month. My premiums for Medicare parts A, B, D, and F cost about $340 per month. My copays for my medication increases under Medicare, but I have no copay for doctor and hospital visits. I would have taken the option for this medical coverage 10 years ago at age 55 if it had been available. I was the highest risk age group of my prior insurance pool and am now the lowest risk age pool of the Medicare pool. It seems to me that the best way to address the problem with Medicare is not to increase the age a person is elgible to take out Medicare insurance through Medicare, but to decrease the age to 55. This would add 10 additionl years of lower risk age groups to the pool. It would also decrease the higher risk age group of private insurance from private insurance pools making insurance coverage prior to Medicare less expensive. My Medicare parts D & F are covered under a private insurance company. Since there were many different companies trying to get my business, it must be profitable. If persons 10 years younger then me are added to the Medicare pools then this also should be cheaper.
Since Medicare part B also charges a premium, it appears to me that the only non premium based coverage I now have is Medicare part A. This appears to be free. It seems to cover 80% of all hospital stays and appears to be the only part covered by our Medicare taxes instead of premiums, and must therefore be the part of Medicare causing the problem. Adding those aged 55-65 to this pool would increase the cost, so additional funds would need to be raised to cover these additional people. In my opinion this is the problem that our Representative should be addressing, not raising the age. Finding this answer would be a win/win for both Medicare and private insurance companies in my opinion. Since Obamacare kicks in in full force in 2014, we have another program to work with to solve this problem.
Of course the cheapest way to go would be Medicare for all, but we may have to get there 10 years at a time instead of all at once.
Since Medicare part B also charges a premium, it appears to me that the only non premium based coverage I now have is Medicare part A. This appears to be free. It seems to cover 80% of all hospital stays and appears to be the only part covered by our Medicare taxes instead of premiums, and must therefore be the part of Medicare causing the problem. Adding those aged 55-65 to this pool would increase the cost, so additional funds would need to be raised to cover these additional people. In my opinion this is the problem that our Representative should be addressing, not raising the age. Finding this answer would be a win/win for both Medicare and private insurance companies in my opinion. Since Obamacare kicks in in full force in 2014, we have another program to work with to solve this problem.
Of course the cheapest way to go would be Medicare for all, but we may have to get there 10 years at a time instead of all at once.