Paul Krugman: Messing With Medicare ("Terrible Policy... Terrible Politics")

[Hissyspit]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/25/opinion/25krugman.html

OP-ED COLUMNIST
Messing With Medicare
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: July 24, 2011

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Specifically, according to many reports, the president offered both means-testing of Medicare benefits and a rise in the age of Medicare eligibility. The first would be bad policy; the second would be terrible policy. And it would almost surely be terrible politics, too.

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For Medicare, with all its flaws, works better than private insurance. It has less bureaucracy and, hence, lower administrative costs than private insurers. It has been more successful in controlling costs. While Medicare expenses per beneficiary have soared over the past 40 years, they’ve risen significantly less than private insurance premiums. And since Medicare-type systems in other advanced countries have much lower costs than the uniquely privatized U.S. system, there’s good reason to believe that Medicare reform can do a lot to control costs in the future.

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If so, I would respectfully suggest that they are out of their minds. Remember death panels? The G.O.P.’s most potent political weapon last year — the weapon that caused a large swing in the votes of older Americans — was the claim that Mr. Obama was cutting Medicare. Why give Republicans a chance to do it all over again?

Of course, it’s possible that the reason the president is offering to undermine Medicare is that he genuinely believes that this would be a good idea. And that possibility, I have to say, is what really scares me.

MORE

[BeyondGeography]

1. Look, I'm not thrilled either, but no one in their mid-60's right now would get thrown off Medicare

What has been proposed is a very gradual increase in the eligibility age, probably hitting someone like me (early 50's) down the road.

[Big Blue Marble]

4. Do you understand the ramifications of this idea?

This is extremely punitive. It may seem like a long time and not a big issue but can you imagine what health care will cost in
a decade? Asking people to find and pay for this coverage in their mid-sixties will bankrupt some and destroy many more's
retirement. And at the same time, they will have smaller SS benefits to help keep up with these costs. This is beyond outrageous.

In the meantime, no tax cuts for the wealthy, no cuts for corporate subsidies, or serious cuts to military spending.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Hold on there, I'm just correcting the statement

It sucks, but people in their mid-60's right now don't have to worry about it.

[eridani]

8. And you don't think we even give a shit about our children and grandchildren? n/t

[dkf]

10. If we did we wouldn't have a deficit this big.

We obviously don't give a damn.

[eridani]

16. That would be the REPUKE deficit

[BeyondGeography]

11. Right now, I wish Krugman wasn't winding people up with a bullshit statement

[CelticThunder]

6. Would you support this if Bush was President?

[Bluebear]

17. (crickets)

[sabrina 1]

9. And if that has been proposed, it is a travesty, especially

coming from a Democrat. This is NOT why people supported this president.

The medicare age should be LOWERED not Raised. I cannot believe that any person calling themselves a democrat could even try to excuse this.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. I'm in my mid-60s, and maybe I'll be safe,

but what about my kids? They've been paying for social security and medicare, too. Should they just give up on any social safety net when they get old?

You know, not all of us first-wave baby boomers are selfish assholes, "I've got mine and to hell with you." I find it insulting that people keep suggesting that we shut up about this because we'll be covered.

[BeyondGeography]

13. Tell me where I suggested that?

Krugman has a very basic fact wrong.

The End.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. Perhaps I was a bit touchy,

but I've been feeling a bit of stress lately with regard to my financial future and the futures of my kids and grandkids. Pardon me if I offended.

[BeyondGeography]

18. No offense taken

[glowing]

14. The reality is that making Medicare available for every citizen and portioning the cost on an amt

Based on income, would make Medicare solvent and make the costs much more controllable. If people who pay private insurers where paying into Medicare what they must into private, then the system is much more solvent. As it is I'm paying for Medicare and private insurance. Most would see a decrease in the over all cost of healthcare because they are no longer paying for CEO's private jets and private islands. Plus no denial of care. Drs can be drs.

[Big Blue Marble]

2. Working link? Please N/T

[Hissyspit]

3. That always helps.

:D Fixed.

[Big Blue Marble]

5. That was fast.

Thanks. :)

[Hissyspit]

19. kick nt