Reply #51: Privatization of Medicare and Medicaid? [View All]

[olegramps]

I can just imagine the insurance companies licking their chops. This is analogous to the Wall Street brokers pushing for privatization of Social Security. As a person on Medicare, after my retirement benefits that provided medical insurance and prescription coverage were priced out of reach to drive people out of the plan, I had only one option that was to enroll in the Medicare Prescription plan run by the insurance companies. This sounds like another rip off.

The problem with the insurance scheme, as I see it, is that it isn't mandatory. Young, healthy people are going to be disinclined to purchase insurance. It would be analogous to young people opting out of paying Social Security. If everyone is made to contribute, then the cost of providing health care is equalized out over your life time. Yes, some people may need more care than others, but would anyone except insurance companies want to let them suffer without adequate health care?