If Obama Hikes Medicare Eligibility Age, That Will Be A Twelve Percent Benefit Cut
by John Nichols
July 12, 2011
The word in Washington is that President Obama has, in negotiations with congressional Republicans, offered to raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67.
The president's proposal does not resemble a plan that mainstream Democrats would suggest, let alone support. In fact, it roughly resembles a plan advanced last month by Senators Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, and Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut.
That the White House appears to be peddling proposals that parallel those of conservative senators represents an exceptionally troubling development, as even considering a hike in the Medicare eligibility age represents the worst of Washington-insider thinking.
The problem with this play is four-fold:
1. Raising the eligibility age represents a huge benefit cut for older Americans.
2. Raising the eligibility age would not save the money that proponents of the cut suggest.
3. Raising the eligibility age harms the struggle with unemployment.
4. Raising the eligibility age undermines the argument that Democrats want to preserve Medicare and helps Republicans such as Paul Ryan to define the debate.Please read the full article at:
http://www.thenation.com/blog/161927/if-obama-hikes-medicare-eligbility-age-thatll-be-12-percent-benefit-cut-----------------------------------------------
To Harm of Millions, Obama Wants to Raise Medicare Age Requirement
By: Jon Walker
July 11, 2011
It seems President Obama as expected grabbed hold of the Joe Lieberman’s trial balloon and is now also pushing to raise the Medicare retirement age to 67.
This would be an extremely horrible move from a policy perspective that would hurt tens of millions of Americans. It would not only increase the medical cost of for those individuals between 65-67 year of age and their employers. Such a move would also increase the Part B premiums for millions of people over 67 who are on Medicare and the increase the premiums for the millions of people under 65 who will be getting insurance on the new exchanges created by Obamacare.
In addition to being a horrible policy that would hurt tens of millions, while producing relatively little savings, agreeing to this bad idea would destroy Democrats current 2012 political advantage which was caused by Republicans embracing Paul Ryan’s plan to eliminate Medicare.
Approving this retirement increase just as Democrats were starting to repair the damage done with seniors as a result of voting for Obamacare would be political devastating to the party.
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/07/11/obama-backs-raising-medicare-age-a-move-that-would-hurt-tens-of-millions/