Economy

Tansy_Gold

(18,167 posts)

32. Since you afford me this wonderful opportunity

Fri Nov 1, 2013, 10:17 AM

Nov 2013

I should point out that Medicare isn't free.

Basic Medicare costs at least $105/month for a single individual. Prescription plans (only available through private insurance companies) start at around $25/month for a single individual. This is even after you've paid into the system via FICA taxes your entire working life.

And Medicare has deductibles and limits and doesn't cover everything. And while it is possible to opt out and buy private insurance that's better, those who don't buy other insurance and still opt out will eventually pay a penalty in the form of higher Medicare premiums.

There are some subsidies available through the various individual state programs/Medicaid to help lower income individuals but they have to be applied for and are not available to everyone everywhere.

What this all comes down to, of course, is that we have an entire system that is totally broken because by design it provides benefits to those who don't need them and denies benefits to those who do. How fucked up is that?

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STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Friday, 1 November 2013 [View all] Tansy_Gold Oct 2013 OP

Dear GOP Demeter Oct 2013 #1

Yes, due to native Polish stubbornness, or perhaps administrative oversight Demeter Oct 2013 #2

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Thank you for proving my point with such a good summary Demeter Nov 2013 #59

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>Presumably, however, the NSA has the requests on record.< LOL n/t jtuck004 Oct 2013 #10

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! xchrom Nov 2013 #18

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indeed. it's jobs first -- and as another duer pointed out -- many households have 2 people xchrom Nov 2013 #17

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And as we know, Numbers Never Lie Demeter Nov 2013 #16

The numbers themselves are lies. Fuddnik Nov 2013 #21

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Good Morning, Tansy! Demeter Nov 2013 #25

Get a job hippie! Fuddnik Nov 2013 #35

Think I should post this in Good Reads? Demeter Nov 2013 #26

Ayup... Roland99 Nov 2013 #30

We should have Medicare for all DemReadingDU Nov 2013 #28

the old H.R. 676 Roland99 Nov 2013 #31

A lot of us miss Kucinich. Fuddnik Nov 2013 #36

I would pay just under $200/mo for my entire family under H.R. 676 Roland99 Nov 2013 #38

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Since you afford me this wonderful opportunity Tansy_Gold Nov 2013 #32

I'm going thru the Medicare process now. DemReadingDU Nov 2013 #41

Exactly, exactly Tansy_Gold Nov 2013 #62

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Hey! Tansy_Gold Nov 2013 #33

Hey, Tansy! Roland99 Nov 2013 #34

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