General Discussion

customerserviceguy

(25,406 posts)

72. We're rapidly heading for a brick wall with Medicare

Fri Mar 1, 2013, 12:21 AM

Mar 2013

It's just about to go broke. The only "solution" I see advanced is lowering payments to doctors and hospitals. Eventually, that's going to drive providers out of the market for treating seniors. I'm lucky, I have a doctor who's younger than me by at least two decades, and she's dedicated to her patients. I may well be one of the people she decides to keep treating when I'm on Medicare.

I see people here saying, "Medicare for everyone". The ONLY reason Medicare works at all right now is that health care providers who still take Medicare patients are able to pass the extra costs on to other patients, usually the uninsured. With insured patients having preferred provider organizations busting down the fees for their members, we're going to run out of people to pay full freight so that everyone else can be treated for what Medicare and the PPO's will pay.

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In POB's Own Words:"Democrats have to accept the need for entitlement reform" [View all] KoKo Feb 2013 OP

Well... woo me with science Feb 2013 #1

Entitlement reform doesn't mean cuts. There is inefficiency in every government and private company bluestate10 Feb 2013 #2

But you can't bash the President putting it like that madokie Feb 2013 #3

I understand. One DU member is lionized for his wild and disingenuous attacks on the bluestate10 Feb 2013 #19

A few are in competition.. one_voice Mar 2013 #111

You Better Believe It! nt msanthrope Feb 2013 #63

:) treestar Mar 2013 #104

Right... because democrats are currently unwilling to accept efficient government whatchamacallit Feb 2013 #5

efficient Meaniepants Mar 2013 #110

Entitlement reform doesn't HAVE TO include cuts . . . markpkessinger Feb 2013 #18

What democrats need to accept is that there is some waste in programs that we care about. bluestate10 Feb 2013 #23

I don't think anybody has disputed that . . . markpkessinger Feb 2013 #26

The discussion on the table has nothing to do with waste. It is about making immediate cuts. robinlynne Mar 2013 #77

^^^THIS^^^^ treestar Mar 2013 #106

yes....there's that for sure. Media goes into a frenzy and KoKo Mar 2013 #112

#1 wasteful entity: the pentagon noiretextatique Mar 2013 #116

Your right, no politician would ever say reform.... daleanime Feb 2013 #22

Uh--Democrats need to understand about getting rid of inefficiencies? Literally nonsense. WinkyDink Feb 2013 #29

See my example on state health care versus town by town health care. bluestate10 Feb 2013 #43

The Chained CPI, which he is willing to consider, IS cuts. We are NOT stupid, at least sabrina 1 Feb 2013 #40

Perhaps you see a bit more what I've been talking about in our previous discussions customerserviceguy Mar 2013 #70

If this passes, this president will be the first Democratic president to sabrina 1 Mar 2013 #97

To me, that is becoming a non-Democrat. It is my very definition. I really do not give a rat's WinkyDink Mar 2013 #101

Thank-you. robinlynne Mar 2013 #78

Social Security's administrative costs are less than 1% MannyGoldstein Feb 2013 #62

"often results in expanded benefits" = no, it doesn't. HiPointDem Mar 2013 #88

Oh, brother... whatever. Marr Mar 2013 #90

Problem with this theory: the Pres said his own supporters wont like it Demo_Chris Mar 2013 #92

The President is an excellent speaker. If he meant to say correcting inefficiency, he COULD SAY IT! progressoid Mar 2013 #108

At this point it's MORE THAN disingenuous to equate reform with benefit cuts. I cut my phone bill uponit7771 Feb 2013 #4

Define "reform" and we'll determine if it is a cut or not. TheKentuckian Feb 2013 #7

That's what worries me...will the Repugs Decide the Reform? KoKo Feb 2013 #8

Is the Chained CPI a cut or is it not? If sure isn't 'reform' to any Democrat I know. sabrina 1 Feb 2013 #42

The money was stolen by previous Congresses customerserviceguy Mar 2013 #71

No, it was borrowed, probably with the intention of stealing it. The fund is receiving sabrina 1 Mar 2013 #100

Social security checks will be reduced. period. robinlynne Mar 2013 #79

So Where RobinA Mar 2013 #96

What democrats have to accept is whatchamacallit Feb 2013 #6

The thing to accept is ProSense Feb 2013 #9

But...I seem to remember you saying that "Entitlements" were not KoKo Feb 2013 #12

Well, ProSense Feb 2013 #13

Chained CPI **IS** a cut. Bake Feb 2013 #32

^^^ this ^^^ TDale313 Mar 2013 #73

Facts don't influence blind emotion. You present facts and logic, many on DU present bluestate10 Feb 2013 #33

There was a fight in my home state a couple of years ago. bluestate10 Feb 2013 #30

What state would that be? Luminous Animal Feb 2013 #46

Why are Social Programs part of a discussion about the Deficit? And why are sabrina 1 Feb 2013 #44

Here: ProSense Feb 2013 #52

Yeah, too bad we didn't get the PO. That would have solved that problem. sabrina 1 Feb 2013 #54

We're rapidly heading for a brick wall with Medicare customerserviceguy Mar 2013 #72

and why Obama would propose such cuts! robinlynne Mar 2013 #80

Oh, I'm sorry, whatchamacallit brentspeak Feb 2013 #51

No he would NOT. robinlynne Mar 2013 #81

I remember when you said Obama would NEVER try to cut Social Security, and that if he DID, Marr Mar 2013 #91

Sometimes ... GeorgeGist Mar 2013 #115

That they now have a 2 front war to wage. kenny blankenship Feb 2013 #21

That would be what the Republicans have "accepted" treestar Mar 2013 #107

Obama's idea of "balance" is total BULLSHIT. Chained CPI means seniors will go hungry. Does forestpath Feb 2013 #10

Boehner hasn't taken him up on the offer yet and ProSense Feb 2013 #11

It's just a kick down the road...this will go on. But POB stated KoKo Feb 2013 #14

Boehner is never going to accept the President's proposal. ProSense Feb 2013 #16

Why are these programs part of this discussion? Is there some reason why sabrina 1 Feb 2013 #47

And besides ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2013 #66

Oh, gosh. Another crisis. Sigh. Somebody do something. Are we talking about the Y2K crisis? Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2013 #15

Worse and worse. kenny blankenship Feb 2013 #17

A sense of entitlement. Bonobo Feb 2013 #20

Connecting Entitlement Reform to Immigration Reform ProSense Feb 2013 #25

I would throw all my support for that man to be President. Bonobo Feb 2013 #27

Yeah, and he used the words: entitlement reform ProSense Feb 2013 #28

I never said it was a horror. Bonobo Feb 2013 #45

Robert Reich: "The Hoax of Entitlement Reform" 1/6/2013/ KoKo Feb 2013 #35

The commentary I linked to was posted: February 20, 2013 n/t ProSense Feb 2013 #39

Yes...but he was focused on "Immigration Reform" KoKo Feb 2013 #49

"Immigration reform and entitlement reform have a lot to do with one another." ProSense Feb 2013 #50

It is not a crises decision for now..Reich said "Reform is a Hoax." KoKo Feb 2013 #69

What on earth ProSense Mar 2013 #76

Mmmm. WilliamPitt Feb 2013 #24

I do not accept entitlement reform. ananda Feb 2013 #31

Do you support turning Medicare into a single payer system? Bjorn Against Feb 2013 #41

Is that a part of the debate? Is the President proposing Medicare for all? sabrina 1 Feb 2013 #48

I never said the President was proposing it, I am proposing it as are many others Bjorn Against Feb 2013 #58

Well, I agree with you and am having a very difficult time understanding why sabrina 1 Feb 2013 #60

One word: money Bjorn Against Feb 2013 #67

They are talking about cuts. robinlynne Mar 2013 #82

Why limit ourselves to what they are talking about? Bjorn Against Mar 2013 #83

It means we should be disgusted. robinlynne Mar 2013 #85

I agree with that, I am disgusted and that is why I am calling for something different Bjorn Against Mar 2013 #86

Nope, tax the rich. nt Deep13 Feb 2013 #34

The answer. Octafish Mar 2013 #75

Really kind of obvious, if you think about it. nt Deep13 Mar 2013 #84

I am very open to entitlement reform, in fact many progressives have pushed reform for years Bjorn Against Feb 2013 #36

But...that's not on the table...and it's the Repugs who KoKo Feb 2013 #53

That is why we need to keep pushing it until it is on the table Bjorn Against Feb 2013 #56

Ultimately That's Where We're Headed... KharmaTrain Feb 2013 #64

I thought that exploding health care costs in the private sector.... YoungDemCA Feb 2013 #37

Yup, screw sick/old people so rich people can stay rich/get richer MotherPetrie Feb 2013 #38

Lesson learned DJ13 Feb 2013 #55

RAISE THE FICA CAP! pansypoo53219 Feb 2013 #57

Take it up to $400K Gman Feb 2013 #59

Agree...but, so far not seen it talked about. KoKo Feb 2013 #68

+ a bazillion TDale313 Mar 2013 #74

We do need reform. Such as lifting/raising the cap on SS I Cant Dance Feb 2013 #61

Hello ~ I Cant Dance. In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #95

(Why is it always about BUSINESS and CONSUMERS?") Spitfire of ATJ Feb 2013 #65

"provide the kind of certainty that you need" Dragonfli Mar 2013 #87

I shouldn't comment here ;the dtom67 Mar 2013 #89

Our system has been taken over by corporate powers. It's not a new thing, sabrina 1 Mar 2013 #98

Keep speaking out. woo me with science Mar 2013 #103

We all know where this is going. Demo_Chris Mar 2013 #93

What/who is POB? Scuba Mar 2013 #94

you know, mr. pob...... spanone Mar 2013 #99

He was a TV star: muriel_volestrangler Mar 2013 #117

One reform that hurts nobody: riqster Mar 2013 #102

And right after that: treestar Mar 2013 #105

What I find most interesting in their Orwellian Speak... Oilwellian Mar 2013 #109

And once again it's used right after Left Leaning Democrats came KoKo Mar 2013 #113

Yes Oilwellian Mar 2013 #114

yep..."Sweet Jesus"....truly...what IS IT? KoKo Mar 2013 #119

He can shove his entitlement reform straight up his ass. limpyhobbler Mar 2013 #118

^^^That's what a DEMOCRAT sounds like kenny blankenship Mar 2013 #120