Single Payer Reloaded. 1 - Merge Medicaid and Medicare;

[denem]

2. Medicaid to 150% poverty line;
3. Medicare buy in : 50-65 years (call Lieberman's bluff)
4. Medicare premiums to directly incorporate
(tax) subsidies to lower income earners; and
5. Outlaw discrimination against Medicare/Medicaid
(now read Medicare) holders.

How much of this program can be done by executive order alone?

1-5 establishe the path and the pressure towards Medicare for all. It's trusted, and the ONLY REAL Public 'Option'.

There are 59 votes in the Senate for a Medicare buy in. The higher the stakes, the higher pressure. Let Lieberman fry.

Note: A vote on reconciliation requires a simple majority in the Senate. A procedural motion to consider the Reconciliation Report can be filibustered.

[dkf]

1. Don't Medicaid and Medicare have different pay structures to providers?

Woulnt using the same formulas for each completely screw up the budgeting?

[denem]

2. Indeed they do. Medicare is 'Off Balance Sheet'.

There is no reason in principle why Medicaid can't be taken off balance sheet. merging it with Medicare, and assigning a firm prportion of tax income to it. Think SCHIP.

[avaistheone1]

3. Interesting.

Could this be done by executive order? If so I am all for it.

k&r

[begin_within]

4. Sounds great except I would say let anyone in regardless of age.

[denem]

5. Age is the not so thin edge of the wedge.

Why do I have to be poor or old to get Medicare? Why indeed.

[begin_within]

6. Well to be blunt,

younger people typically have lower medical care costs, so to allow younger buyers into it would be cost-effective, as Medicare then wouldn't have to cover only senior citizens, who typically have higher medical costs. More younger people paying in, with fewer claims, would help to make the system more self-supporting.

[denem]

7. That's exactly right.

It's also true that 50-65 year olds have lower costs than 65-80 years olds.

50-65 years can be done right now. 2010.

[begin_within]

8. I would be delighted,

since I'm turning 50 in a few months, to never have to write a check to Blue Shield again. That would be heavenly. Sure I'll have to pay for Medicare but at least I would be getting better coverage.

[monmouth]

9. I really like this too. Medicare costs would drop for seniors also I

would think.

[denem]

11. But you are quite right - why should anyone have to wait.

If private insurance is good, and oh-so-trusted, let it compete in the free market. People would vote with their feet.

[Cleita]

10. You make too much sense so it will never happen.

Thanks for trying though.

[denem]

12. There are 59 votes in the Senate for a Medicare buy in.

In the end in can hear that rattlesnake saying - I don't agree with it, but it's up to the Senate to decide.

[Cleita]

13. There's less than 59. There is also Nelson, Landrieu and Lincoln that would

hold out. It could still be done with 51 senators but if Harry Reid had the will to do so, it would have been done before the Senate bill was shredded so I don't think you will get it this time around either. We can keep our fingers crossed though.