CBO issues Medicare warning

[papau]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20050126-121259-8287r.htm

CBO issues Medicare warning
By Brian DeBose
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published January 26, 2005

The rising costs of Medicare and Medicaid are a larger long-term problem for the federal budget than Social Security, Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin said yesterday.
Mr. Holtz-Eakin predicted a $368 billion deficit for fiscal 2005, which ends Sept. 30, a figure he said was "marginally" better than the $412 billion deficit last year.
Medicare and Medicaid costs, which rose last year when Congress passed the Medicare prescription drug bill and will rise again next year when full coverage takes effect, is the major hindrance to long-term fiscal security, he said.
Social Security costs will rise by about 4.4 percent annually until 2015, shortly after the first baby boomers become eligible for retirement -- but Mr. Holtz-Eakin said the increase will be dwarfed by the growth in government medical coverage. <snip>

[Robert Oak]

1. Yes, medical costs, medicare is the elephant in the room

While the neocons push their privitization issue this
is the program that is in crisis.

Great post few are aware of this.

[Dark]

2. Would we even have this problem if we didn't have that WAR? n/t