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Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts) Wed Nov 21, 2012, 11:23 PM Nov 2012

Would it help Medicare financially to LOWER, not raise, the eligibility age? [View all]

Just thinking...what if Medicare lowered its age of eligibility a couple of years, and CHARGED people for it? Would that make Medicare solvent?

People 63 years old are generally healthier than those older than 65, I would think. So they wouldn't be using the benefits to the same extent. Plus, if they are required to pay for it, that would add money to Medicare, in addition to the taxes.

Wouldn't that help Medicare more than raising the eligibility age? Just wondering. Or is that sort of the same thing as the ACA (but no, I don't think it is...it's a totally different thing).

17 replies

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Would it help Medicare financially to LOWER, not raise, the eligibility age? [View all] Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 OP

lower it to conception age lol nt msongs Nov 2012 #1

That would suit me just fine. Lugnut Nov 2012 #3

agreed SmileyRose Nov 2012 #5

Just what I was going to post! And it would us lots of money. yardwork Nov 2012 #16

To add money to Medicare, govt. would have to charge more then what it costs. Kaleva Nov 2012 #2

best ways to cut medicare costs SmileyRose Nov 2012 #4

What we need to do is roll all of medical insurance into single payer with no co-pay. HopeHoops Nov 2012 #6

I'm not at all sure the MLR is a good thing as structured. TheKentuckian Nov 2012 #9

We just need to take profit out of the equation. The remaining details are trivial. HopeHoops Nov 2012 #10

But what would your incentive be to become a dr. or nurse? If there's no Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #11

I never implied that the workers shouldn't get a good salary. Non-profit means the organization. HopeHoops Nov 2012 #13

Drs. don't get salaries. They get payment for services. If payments are cut, their income Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #14

Frankly, salaries would be better - and good ones. Universities aren't cheap! HopeHoops Nov 2012 #15

As I said, doctors don't usu. get salaries. They are business owners. nt Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #17

There is no more money to give to medical/insurance complex. In the economy, I mean. Romulox Nov 2012 #7

Single pool, single payer. MineralMan Nov 2012 #8

All good points but the legal system has to be changed. former9thward Nov 2012 #12