Reply #1: I guess I take exception to the statement [View All]

[exboyfil]

"Medicare is a big insurance policy you've already paid for, in full, that takes effect at 65—an age when private insurers wouldn't touch you."

In full - so those who paid 0.35%/0.35% to 0.9%/0.9% of income for ten years between 1966 to 1976 only paid in full because the law said they did. This is the most extreme example, but it conveys the point.

Going forward we will see even more means testing of Medicare. High incomes already pay over $300/mo for their insurance. Not saying good or bad, but it is welfare just like Social Security is for low income workers. Their benefits are subsidized by higher earners.

Probably should have seen a Medicare single payer type of plan go in when the steaming pile actually went in. Best case family insurance should probably cost around $6K. We would settle someplace around 15-20% of income for a single payer plan (like the Germans). Will need to dramatically cut health care workers salaries (especially specialist doctors) to get closer to 15%. Pensioners in Germany, unless their employer covers it, pay for their insurance out of their pension (not sure about the employer amount though?).