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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

forthemiddle

(1,373 posts)
145. Wrong
Wed Jan 15, 2020, 05:09 PM
Jan 2020

Traditional Medicare is administered through private companies called carriers, or MACS.

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Contracting/Medicare-Administrative-Contractors/What-is-a-MAC#WhatIsAMac.

Your doctor does not send any claims to the Government, instead they send them to the individual MACs that then process the claims, and either pay, or deny that claim.

For example Wisconsin uses WPS, other states use Blue Cross Blue Shield.
This is one reason Medicare can boast such a low amount spent on administration compared to traditional insurance companies, they have contracted out a huge part of the administrative duties.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
I pay $233 a month which is 1/3 of my income underthematrix Jan 2020 #1
True DENVERPOPS Jan 2020 #30
You won't be paying those on Medicare for All. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #76
Why not? Will Medicare for All magically change Medicare? yardwork Jan 2020 #113
Medicare for all has no copays and no deductibles. You do not need a supplemental policy. There vsrazdem Jan 2020 #114
How is this being paid for? underthematrix Jan 2020 #129
AgaIn. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #133
Just a guess, but the 55 mentions of TAX will not endear most readers of the plan. nt fleabiscuit Jan 2020 #170
That doesn't begin to explain how they could fund a completely different program pnwmom Jan 2020 #176
Free Money!!! getagrip_already Jan 2020 #154
So sick of the 'we can't afford it' mantra Doremus Jan 2020 #169
and don't forget Space Force and on and on. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #186
You do reailize we are talking about $30 trillion here dansolo Jan 2020 #187
And yet every other developed country in the world has managed to do it. Doremus Jan 2020 #205
Better than nothing? LiberalFighter Jan 2020 #131
That's why MFA is better than medicare. And Better than nothign was referring to dental and vision. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #132
MFA isn't better than anything unless it gets approved by Congress. yardwork Jan 2020 #136
Sorry, MFA would be better than anyhing else out there. Is that better. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #137
Medicare for All doesn't exist. It won't exist unless it gets approved by Congress. yardwork Jan 2020 #141
Shssshhhh The Mouth Jan 2020 #200
Lol! yardwork Jan 2020 #201
Dream on. n/t pnwmom Jan 2020 #175
Yep. This sounds about right. When we had Obamacare we got a subsidy which made our monthly underthematrix Jan 2020 #120
I pay $5,300 a year... Grins Jan 2020 #128
Bernie's MFA Bill would change much of how Medicare works and what it covers. HerbChestnut Jan 2020 #2
Yeah, and how is that gonna pass Congress? dhol82 Jan 2020 #5
It starts by voting for a presidential candidate who supports it. HerbChestnut Jan 2020 #9
and has a congress that will pass it. dhol82 Jan 2020 #15
Vote for representatives that support it too. HerbChestnut Jan 2020 #17
I can just see the voter in Mississippi and Alabama praising Jesus and voting for a democratic plan. dhol82 Jan 2020 #19
Part of living in a representative democracy is that not everyone will agree with you. HerbChestnut Jan 2020 #22
You keep believing that! dhol82 Jan 2020 #25
If you consider 87% against being a "majority." LOL. The Valley Below Jan 2020 #123
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #156
Kaiser Family Foundation The Valley Below Jan 2020 #157
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #159
87% against isn't a "majority" except in upside-down world. The Valley Below Jan 2020 #161
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #162
Asked and answered. The Valley Below Jan 2020 #165
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #167
Right just vote for Bernie and everything else will fall into place. I should buy stock in rose UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #102
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #158
No, FoxNewsSucks Jan 2020 #46
I really don't understand this repeated fallacy dansolo Jan 2020 #106
Hey, we have printing presses The Mouth Jan 2020 #202
When did Democrats stop fighting the long fight? Beartracks Jan 2020 #82
That has got to be the smartest comment I've seen ArcticFox Jan 2020 #87
Well, thank you. Beartracks Jan 2020 #88
When did Ds start acting like Rs by proposing pie-in-the-sky stopbush Jan 2020 #193
Where in that bill is the section that outlines how it all GETS PAID FOR? stopbush Jan 2020 #10
If you're insured now, any added taxes will be less than your premium ArcticFox Jan 2020 #89
Not enough money at the top to fund this Loki Liesmith Jan 2020 #105
Not really true ArcticFox Jan 2020 #118
Europe "gets away with it" by levying heavy taxes on their citizens to pay for healthcare. stopbush Jan 2020 #124
I wonder how many people appreciate everything Europeans get for their taxes ArcticFox Jan 2020 #146
Yes, we are getting the shaft. stopbush Jan 2020 #147
Many more are not so lucky ArcticFox Jan 2020 #153
Wake up, ofcourse it can be done. Danmark Jan 2020 #152
I think you responded to the wrong post ArcticFox Jan 2020 #155
Many countries afford it. Just study how they do it delisen Jan 2020 #184
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #160
Bloomberg does not believe in MFA. His plan is a lot like Biden's - stopbush Jan 2020 #164
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #166
No need to call Mike when his healthcare plan is outlined at his campaign website. stopbush Jan 2020 #173
Unfortunately he doesn't consider how Medicare is administered today, which includes... George II Jan 2020 #40
Not it is not. Medicare Advantage is private insurance. Medicare is not. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #77
But with Medicare radical noodle Jan 2020 #84
You won't need supplements. I'm all for getting the insurance company out of my healthcare, and now vsrazdem Jan 2020 #93
My employer provided healthcare radical noodle Jan 2020 #96
I had really gold-plated insurance Freddie Jan 2020 #109
LMAO! You're so right! radical noodle Jan 2020 #149
Wrong forthemiddle Jan 2020 #145
Yup, and mine just went up up by 200% in January. dhol82 Jan 2020 #3
Medicare will look very different after MFA is passed. HerbChestnut Jan 2020 #7
Ok. I'll believe it when I see it. dhol82 Jan 2020 #13
you pay it in taxes. There will be no premiums, including people who are currently on Medicare and vsrazdem Jan 2020 #4
Do you really think that the republican members of Congress will just roll over and beg for this? dhol82 Jan 2020 #11
No, but the people will want it and he will go to every state if need be to tell them what they can vsrazdem Jan 2020 #16
If, if, if. dhol82 Jan 2020 #18
Well I know people are sick of going bankrupt or dying because they can't get healthcare. Sure you vsrazdem Jan 2020 #20
It's a better plan than defeatism TidySum Jan 2020 #98
From the same group that did that poll... ehrnst Jan 2020 #116
This message was self-deleted by its author Otto Lidenbrock Jan 2020 #24
Sure Thekaspervote Jan 2020 #31
No. Clearly people vote against their own self interests time and time again and this will be no UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #103
No, its not good enough when you can't afford to use it. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #112
Well, Joe Biden says republicons will be eager to work with us. FoxNewsSucks Jan 2020 #47
The current Medicare tax is 1.45% for the employee and 1.45% for the employer. stopbush Jan 2020 #32
There is an income level for people to start paying. Lower income does not pay anything. This is vsrazdem Jan 2020 #48
Er, above you say there are no premiums. Now you say the 6.5% tax stopbush Jan 2020 #71
It is a tax, not a premium. Sorry, it should be keeps the costs per person low. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #79
Do your math and you'll see MFA is a deal ArcticFox Jan 2020 #92
But under current Medicare, EACH family member pays a monthly premium. stopbush Jan 2020 #191
So how does it work with doctors, many of whom refuse Medicaid, and even some pnwmom Jan 2020 #177
Unless they want to retire, they will accept the only game in town. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #185
And what happens when ten or twenty percent decide to retire, or just pnwmom Jan 2020 #189
All patient's will be public, so unless they don't want to work anymore, they have no choice. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #190
Dream on! There is no legal way we could prevent qualified doctors from pnwmom Jan 2020 #195
I don't know too may patient's who would love to pay out of pocket for their healthcare. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #197
But we all know there are lots of doctors who could afford to retire early pnwmom Jan 2020 #198
I have been in the healthcare field for 40 years. Doctor's don't like to retire. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #199
Medicare for all could make it a lot easier for them, if they don't feel like working pnwmom Jan 2020 #203
Yes, and the planet could be hit by an asteroid. Doomesday scenarios. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #204
Isn't this the opposite end SCVDem Jan 2020 #6
Because MFA isn't Medicare. TwilightZone Jan 2020 #8
He co-opted the name "Medicare" hoping people would fall for it. Nobody did. George II Jan 2020 #14
"Fall for it"? It's not current Medicare... it's an *improved* version of Medicare. thesquanderer Jan 2020 #26
No it's not. It has little in common with the current Medicare. Actually probably just the "name". George II Jan 2020 #42
What it has in common is that it is a government run single payer system. thesquanderer Jan 2020 #56
But, without considering how Medicare is administered, Sanders is proposing.... George II Jan 2020 #57
OMG keeping costs down, are you serious. The way they keep costs down is by denying coverage. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #80
There is no way Congress True Blue American Jan 2020 #90
He'll end $1000 or so in premiums, but assess $2000 in taxes. Win-lose for Americans. George II Jan 2020 #12
That is not exactly true. Blue_true Jan 2020 #27
I was generalizing. My point is we have no details, and the cost is probably more than we'll "save". George II Jan 2020 #29
I can't dispute either point that you made. nt Blue_true Jan 2020 #37
And squirecam Jan 2020 #34
Good point since the employer is currently paying most of the Blue_true Jan 2020 #45
And squirecam Jan 2020 #50
That's trickle down, which we know doesn't work. Employers will pocket the difference, if any. George II Jan 2020 #110
And got rid of their deductibles and coinsurance. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #49
Where in the world did you find that hogwash or did you concoct it on your own? LonePirate Jan 2020 #163
Bernie's plan (and really Elizabeth's) is really more of a "Medicaid" for all dflprincess Jan 2020 #21
Riiiiight. nt Kahuna7 Jan 2020 #33
So Sanders wants to snowybirdie Jan 2020 #23
I currently have Medicare A dflprincess Jan 2020 #39
Plus it was prepaid for 40 years before you were ever eligible MichMan Jan 2020 #59
It depends where you live. stopbush Jan 2020 #73
How dare he replace an expensive complicated Voltaire2 Jan 2020 #108
I'm paying $300 with supplemental and prescription coverage. nt Kahuna7 Jan 2020 #28
Well then you should welcome paying NOTHING ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #36
We will pay SOMETHING. That lack of detail is what bothers me about Sen. Sanders, Blue_true Jan 2020 #41
Not going to happen! True Blue American Jan 2020 #91
The program is funded through taxes. Voltaire2 Jan 2020 #174
NOTHING is FREE. And when we start bandying about 'free this and free that' WE LOSE. nt UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #104
100% True Blue American Jan 2020 #182
So am I and it is the best insurance I have ever had, but I am sure willing to have support everyone vsrazdem Jan 2020 #52
If you believe him, he will eliminate Medicare premiums, make copays zero, free dental, and Hoyt Jan 2020 #35
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #38
Be honest squirecam Jan 2020 #43
This message was self-deleted by its author ChubbyStar Jan 2020 #51
Indeed. You point out a very important factor when you say stopbush Jan 2020 #192
Is Sen. Sander's plan a good idea? Blue_true Jan 2020 #44
Well, I guess people should check and decide. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #54
There is no dollars and cents breakout like Sen. Warren did. Blue_true Jan 2020 #60
And his plan covers 80 % he said it...by my math that is a 20% deductible that has no out of Demsrule86 Jan 2020 #53
No, there is no 80%. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #63
I am pretty sure he said 80% Demsrule86 Jan 2020 #65
No he did not. There is no deductible, no coinsurance, and a max of $200 for prescription drugs. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #67
I am not in favor of this plan...I may have misunderstood...will check Demsrule86 Jan 2020 #72
How can you not be in favor of a plan you have not seen detailed ? vsrazdem Jan 2020 #81
Because it's Bernie's plan. nt. Mariana Jan 2020 #95
Bernie proposes a wholly new system. It's Medicare in name only. Politicub Jan 2020 #55
He proposes it without key details and some take him seriously. nt Blue_true Jan 2020 #62
Simple answer: more Government spending... brooklynite Jan 2020 #58
Well we seem to have no problem funding military, wars and tax breaks for the rich, so I guess vsrazdem Jan 2020 #64
What has Sanders specifically proposed to address that? brooklynite Jan 2020 #66
From his website. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #68
Pie in the sky options. Raise the top tax rate to 52%, tax Wall Street, etc. stopbush Jan 2020 #74
I like pie, and sky, so I will keep wishing if you don't mind. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #75
How about this: what if that pie in the sky actually means that you and the average American stopbush Jan 2020 #122
Now that is pie in the sky. 6.5% is not 30%. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #125
30% is the tax rate individuals in the UK pay to fund government programs. stopbush Jan 2020 #140
Why do you assume more government spending? Doodley Jan 2020 #69
How do so many Dems and DUers not understand single payer health care systems like MFA? LonePirate Jan 2020 #61
Exactly, If it works for other developed nations, it can work here. Doodley Jan 2020 #70
Problem is, some people don't believe it. It's really that simple. Hoyt Jan 2020 #83
As I understand it, the necessary taxes will be less than the premiums... Beartracks Jan 2020 #86
This whole line of inquiry is disingenuous. mike_c Jan 2020 #78
There have to be limits radical noodle Jan 2020 #85
There are no limits. You get the care you need just like in other countries. If people can get vsrazdem Jan 2020 #94
Oh, there are definitely people who will abuse it radical noodle Jan 2020 #97
I am sure there are things that it won't cover, I would think implants would be listed as cosmetic. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #99
The devil is in the details radical noodle Jan 2020 #148
I was suprised too. In fact, I thought may be was another patient's test, because I have never had vsrazdem Jan 2020 #150
But we are a consumer culture Algernon Moncrieff Jan 2020 #101
There are plenty of Medicare Part B supplment plans Algernon Moncrieff Jan 2020 #100
I believe Sanders janterry Jan 2020 #107
You realize don't you that Medicare now is not the Medicare For All bill of Sanders. Nanjeanne Jan 2020 #111
I don't think they do. I don't think people currently on Medicare realize that they most likely vsrazdem Jan 2020 #115
You mean Medicaid? That program already exists. The monthly income threshold stopbush Jan 2020 #121
No I do not mean Medicaid. Medicare for all is no premiums, no deductibles and $200 out of pocket vsrazdem Jan 2020 #127
You never seem to mention what the TAXES are in other countries to pay stopbush Jan 2020 #130
I don't know what they are and I don't care what they are there. Here they will be 6.5% vsrazdem Jan 2020 #134
So, ignorance is bliss? stopbush Jan 2020 #135
It's why "Medicare for all" is a stupid name Recursion Jan 2020 #117
Er, your information about Medicare is wrong. stopbush Jan 2020 #194
No. There's a $1000 deductible and no out of pocket maximum Recursion Jan 2020 #196
Currently, 100% of workers pay into Medicare thru a weekly payroll deduction of 1.45%. stopbush Jan 2020 #119
Again, from his website. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #126
Again, Sanders does not provide SPECIFICS on where the funding comes from for his program. stopbush Jan 2020 #138
You asked how he was proposing to pay for it. Not specifics. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #139
Er, that's what specifics are, ie: how it's paid for. stopbush Jan 2020 #142
Show me a better plan that covers EVERYONE and I'm all for it. I don't see one out there. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #143
This is silly talk. stopbush Jan 2020 #144
Premiums for a private insurance plan. eom guillaumeb Jan 2020 #151
I never realized so many people liked the current US health care system until I read the MFA threads LonePirate Jan 2020 #168
I know, I really don't get it. People saying this is going to make Medicare and healthcare worse. vsrazdem Jan 2020 #171
Your last two sentences perfectly sum up the MFA opposition. LonePirate Jan 2020 #172
We have health insurance in Australia. Aussie105 Jan 2020 #178
you also won't have to pay for supplemental insurance KayF Jan 2020 #179
Um, he stops it? whathehell Jan 2020 #180
Medicare for all. Aussie105 Jan 2020 #181
MFA was deliberately named that because people like and are familiar with Medicare MichMan Jan 2020 #183
Somebody needs to tell some of these people how much the taxes are in Canada, or the Netherlands. redstatebluegirl Jan 2020 #188
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