Here's A Thought - MEDICARE
How about Obama and the Democrats getting together and drop any mention of "public plan" or "robust public plan" or "viable public plan" or even the overused "single payer" and simply use a word familiar to most Americans and all Canadians: MEDICARE
Yeah I know that would be too simple. Telling the American public:
"You and/or your employer will have the right to purchase an insurance policy with the program commonly known as MEDICARE. You get all the coverage that anyone over 65 gets, including the new revised prescription drug plan, and you get it for a reasonable monthly fee. If you can't afford the premium, we'll help you pay for it."
How about folding SCHIP and Medicaid in there while we are at it.
Simplify the system and simplify the talking points.
Yeah I know that would be too simple. Telling the American public:
"You and/or your employer will have the right to purchase an insurance policy with the program commonly known as MEDICARE. You get all the coverage that anyone over 65 gets, including the new revised prescription drug plan, and you get it for a reasonable monthly fee. If you can't afford the premium, we'll help you pay for it."
How about folding SCHIP and Medicaid in there while we are at it.
Simplify the system and simplify the talking points.
Advertisement
To find a way to join Medicare... oh to dream. That's really all I want.
August 1, 2009 1:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Okay with me Candide.
A little repub logic.
I mean the Clean Air Act was the dirty air act.
Tax relief was for the rich with toasters going to the middle class.
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
August 1, 2009 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
C'Ville Dem has been asking this question for months. Why not utilize a program that is in place and which works, with some fixable glitches, by:
1) adding on Americans in ten-year age groups over a period of five to six years; and,
2) adding on personnel at Medicare in proportional numbers to handle the paperwork?
So simple. So sane. So helpful.
Thanks, Candide, for adding your voice. Keep talking, please.
August 1, 2009 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
How do we pay for it? How would we control the spiraling costs?
I hope everyone has latest the latest Trustees Report Summary
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/index.html
August 1, 2009 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you're going to comment, you need to improve your reading comprehension MCB. Take your time and sound out the words this time:
August 1, 2009 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Since you started throwing around the personal insults - I'll take my turn - go fuck yourself, Miguel.
I read it carefully and my reading comprehension is fine.
Medicare as we know it has never been able to control its costs. Do you really think that the premiums Medicare would collect would cover the incremental costs? History would say no.
You want to add millions of people to a program that needs serious reform? Brilliant idea.
August 1, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
My comment wasn't ad hominem, as yours was, it was true.
August 1, 2009 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
MCB likes to dish it out, but he can't take even the most constructive criticism -- it hurts his feelings when he finds out he he is wrong.
August 1, 2009 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't remember MCB ever admitting he was wrong even in the face of overwhelming evidence.
August 1, 2009 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I was going to attack the piggy, I'd go with "Go pork yourself."
More elan.
As for controlling Medicare costs, negotiating rates with drug companies is a good start. So is adding young people to the risk pool--they're still paying, but do not require as many services. Also, paying doctors a salary instead of a pay-for-service scheme seems like a pretty rational idea to me.
August 1, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
What overwhelming evidence? I was simply asking a question about Medicare's costs and expanding a program that needs serious reform.
August 1, 2009 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't attack people personally and wasn't "dishing" anything out. I was disagreeing with the idea of expanding Medicare. But was told to take my time and sound out words. I don't understand how asking a question about controlling medicare costs or paying for those extra participants necessitated such a response.
It's hard to be "wrong" about simply asking a question.
August 1, 2009 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Asking how we pay for it and control the costs is "ad hominem"? I understand "ad hominem" to be attacking one's personal character. I don't think I did that.
August 1, 2009 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink