Medicare Bipartisian Proposal

[Guy N]

A new proposal to save Medicare and reduce the debt was unveiled today by Senator Lieberman, an Independent from Connecticut, and Tom Coburn a Republican from Oklahoma. The proposal is purported to save over $600 billion over a ten year period.

Some key points of interest to Seniors from the Medicare proposal are:

• A combined Part A and Part B annual deductible of $550

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  An annual out of pocket maximum of $7,500 per individual

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  Medicare age eligibility would be gradually raised to age 67 by 2025.

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  Require higher income people to pay more out of pocket for Medicare

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  Limit Medigap coverage for cost sharing by not allowing Medigap to pay any of the $550 deductible, and also limit the payment of the $7,500 out of pocket limit to half by Medigap. The rest must be paid by the individual.

• 
  Require higher income people to pay more for Medicare Part B

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  Increase the minimum premium for Part B

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  Higher income people must also pay more for Medicare Part D

• 
  Improve Medicare's ability to combat fraud

There were some other factors but these are the major ones of interest to seniors.

Funny thing I didn't see anywhere in the proposed bill a way to get to the root of the problem and that is the high cost of medical care.

Proposed Medicare Bill

 

[classof63]

I am not sure how I feel about this newest Medicare proposal. Two things I am concerned about:

1. If they limit the Medigap companies from paying any of the deductible and limit their coverage after the deductible is met to one half, then that will discourage many people from buying Medigap insurance. Maybe that is the plan, but I just purchased Medigap and the reason I did was so I could pay predictable monthly Medigap payments instead of being hit with large out of pocket expense should I need extensive medical treatments.

2. It won't affect me, but it they raise the Medicare age to 67 then those people 65 and 66 will have to purchase their own private insurance. I know how expensive this was for me at age 63 and 64, just imagine how much it will cost a 66 year old for private insurance.

I do agree with making the wealthy pay more for Medicare. Taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing medical care for those earning $500,000 per year!

 

[oldhippie]

The Senator dudes don't have to pay for their medical coverage so they don't really look at it from the ordinary folks point of view. Besides they are rich anyway so if they did have to pay for their coverage it wouldn't phase them.

What's this about making people 65 and 66 years old buy their medical insurance privately? How will this save money? People will skip going to the doctor and wait until things are worse and when they do get on Medicare at age 67 the costs to treat them will be much more.

Some just can't see the forest for the trees. Come down off your high horse and talk to the people dudes. Find out what is really going on. If people have to wait to get Medicare, or pay more for deductibles they will just skip the doctor part and instead of catching something early and treating it they will catch it later when the costs are out of sight.