Reply #10: Medicare has never paid for 'gourmet meals and private rooms'

[Bluenorthwest]

never, ever, ever. Generics have been used whenever the LAW does not disallow them. Such rhetoric will not help anyone in an argument with the right about Medicare. It is like saying we are going to save money at the schools by ending the door to door Rolls Royce transportation for each student. We don't provide that, so we can not cut that. Claiming that Medicare provides 'gourmet meals' and luxury rooms is a foolish thing to do, as most Americans have direct experience with Medicare from parents, grandparents or themselves.
You do understand, for example, that Medicare services are all subject to deductibles and co-pays on top of monthly premiums? So the beneficiaries do not get anything for nothing, and are very interested in keeping the bill low, for they personally cover 20% of that bill, and most of them live on tight economies. The fact is, when an expensive test is ordered, most Medicare patients will ask how much it costs, and make sure it is needed. Because if it was like you suggest, orders of many pointless tests, the patient would be responsible for hundreds if not thousands in co-pays, and precious few of them take that lightly.
Gourmet meals indeed. Geez.