I’m a woman on Medicare - due to my disability. But, I’m a lucky woman as I’m also covered under my husband’s employer plan which acts as the primary plan.  Most people under Medicare aren’t so lucky to have an excellent employer plan although the Medicare Supplement plans offered by many insurance companies to people over age 65 pay almost everything left over after Medicare pays.

Nowdays people are clamouring for a government plan.  Medicare is a government plan and it has been around for many years and in fact since 1965.  Americans just don’t seem to realize Medicare is indeed a tried and true Public Government Plan.  And if we are to someday get what is called a public plan for everyone in America, Medicare could easily be the model.

Medicare is a godsend plan to the elderly but if the person doesn’t purchase a supplemental plan, there are extensive deductibles and co-pays which some persons aren’t able to afford.  Medicare has been around for a long time and operates to get persons out of the hospital as soon as possible. There are a lot of internal controls within the Medicare plan and therefore, I don’t see it breaking the bank as was indicated above and I feel that spreading words like this only puts fears in older people covered by Medicare.  (What might break the bank is the sheer number of baby boomers which will be entering the Medicare plan)  Doctors who accept Medicare patients are required to accept the payments Medicare determines to be reasonable.   If they don’t want to accept this payment, then they must refuse to treat Medicare patients….thus they lose out on this patient base.

In 1983 Congress established a prospective payment system (PPS) for Medicare reimbursement of inpatient acute care hospital services. Under PPS, Medicare payment is made at a predetermined, specific rate for each discharge. All discharges are classified according to a list of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs). The list contains approximately 500 specific DRGs. Each DRG is assigned a dollar amount based on the average cost of caring for patients with similar diagnoses in the past. The reimbursement for gall bladder, for example, might be set at $1800. For every patient treated in the hospital for gall bladder the hospital would receive $1800 in Medicare reimbursement regardless of whether the patient’s care actually cost the hospital less, or more, to deliver. This means that the hospital can make a profit by discharging a patient as early as possible. On the other hand, the hospital will suffer a financial loss if the patient remains in the hospital too long. In essence the hospital has a financial incentive to give less care.  This may be the wrong way to go about this…..but in essence, this is price control.  The way this system is designed and operates for Medicare would be easy to adopt in any new health care reform plan…..the hospitals may not like it though.  As explained, the doctors are subject to price controls in accepting the determined reasonable charge and the hospitals also are under price controls.

I think the Part D plan is a farce (my opinion only of course)  and should have been written to provide a greater benefit maximum….it leaves what is called a donut hole/gap.  Congress should have seen through the fog on this before passing this and they should have made sure a smooth operation was in place before making if effective…..I just think it could have been so much better if more thought had been put into it.   This plan seems to me to be nothing more than putting your money in a pot so that it can be paid out for your drugs.  People could do that by putting their money in a bank account and paying their drugs from that….in view of this, it’s my opinion this plan doesn’t pay enough for the premiums which are charged.  In addition, it’s my opinion (and each person should seek information to make their own) that anyone who is also covered by another medical plan (employer or extended by retirement) should never enroll in Plan D while under this other medical plan with a drug benefit. Unfortunately there have been many problems with Part D such as low income persons being charged the wrong cost-sharing and therefore had to pay it back….their premiums weren’t deducted from their Social Sec. checks or were wrong amounts were deducted….and many drugs not covered. 

I guess my whole opinion about Medicare in total,  would be don’t knock it if you don’t anything or very little about it.  And don’t forget that America does have a government plan….just hope that it only gets better for the many many people who are nearing the age to be covered by Medicare.

Sorry to have gone on and on……thirty plus years of health insurance and Medicare Experience at the Executive level stays with you a long time.

I’ve written about my Medicare coverage (since 1995) on another question. I am very satisfied with it, am part of a large group, and also have supplemental insurance. However, Part D, which I did not join and wouldn’t have except that my union made a deal so that when the donut begins I pay 3 times more for my drugs, is dangerous to seniors. Some have to cut down on important medications because they cannot afford them.Though I’ve saved for emergencies, without Medicare, I’d be broke.

Before penalizing those who pay for and are covered by Medicare, control the pharmaceutical companies that reap huge profits from our hard-earned money, and cut administrative costs.  And, instead of referring to "government coverage" as something derogatory, learn about other systems in Germany, Japan, Great Britain, and other countries, and learn from them. And, we have much to learn.

 Don’t accuse us of are robbing our children, and all that stuff. And, don’t destroy what is beneficial. 

I recommend reading the newly published "The  Healing of America" by T.R.Reid who compared  medical programs in 10 countries, and then those who have more discretionary money than people like me will understand the necessity for universal care and how it can function well for a nation, not selected citizens. None of these plans described in the book exclude people who have prior conditions, and countries like Japan have an increasingly larger population of seniors, who are covered, to their satisfaction.

In the U.S. both Social Security (which wealthy people can use for cab fare) and Medicare have been positive experiences for those of us who worked during our entire adult lives, paid into the system, and now benefit from these plans. If there is a financial problem, propose changing the financial setup, but do not dismantle these programs. 

Yes, Medicare has been a boon for us. Don’t minimize it or destroy it. If you can afford private insurance, then go for it! Many of us can’t. 

"On Medicare" alone?  No, it doesn’t work.  Like all insurance companies Medicare then sets what is covered and what is not forgetting logic and using, I don’t know what as the rule by which they measure…i.e. pap smears are only covered every other year now — I suppose the thinking is that once you’re past child-bearing age it’s no longer necessary.  But suppose it is….what then?  Fortunately we have both Medicare and private insurance and that works sometimes.  Training staff to deal with the forms necessary is monumental causing already inflated costs to spiral upwards; getting paid is difficult; many doctors prefer instead to give you the forms, tell you what to fill out and then you try to get reimbursed for what you’ve already paid. 

Unfortunately, like the president’s health care plan, Medicare is difficult to understand, almost impossible to the average person……hence, the fear and anger.  We rely on our doctor’s staff to tell us what and if we’re covered and what and if we owe more money.  Then of course we get billed and billed and billed again while the office waits to be paid.  If we call about this bill, we’re told not to worry about it, "the computer just automatically sends it out until it’s paid."  How many times then are they overpaid and is this money returned?  Not by the unscrupulous.  My son in law’s grandmother would just pay the bill; she was used to paying her bills on time for all of her life; she never received a check back telling her that this bill was paid. 

Giving the president’s plan a chance means that we would be stuck with it forever if it doesn’t work and I think that’s the crux of the matter…..and what government run plan now works?     

It cost me 100 a month for this insurance that I already paid for while I was working, so far it’s not worked for me.  I have to have another insurance to make sure I have the coverage needed by my illness/disabilities.  But because I’m a disabled Female Vet I can and do go to the VA, Medicare kicks in when I need something the VA won’t cover 100 percent. 

I thought Medicare was for those of us on Social Security Retirement/Disability not the every day folk, isn’t Medacaid what you get through the state??

I am not on Medicare.  But my mom and my in laws have been pleased with their care.  Recently, I took my 86 year old neighbor for her weekly therapy.  She proudly told the nurse that it was her last day.  The nurse disappeared for a couple of minutes, came back and said, " Miss Edna, Medicare pays for three more visits. I hope you will come."   The doctors and nurses here have been terrific.

BUT…

There are 27 Texas counties that have no doctor at all.  The number of primary care doctors the state produces has not kept pace with the birth rate and the influx from other states (looking for job opportunities).  Some clinics have spent months trying to lure doctors.  Some Texans cross one or two counties to see a doctor.  This shortage is expected to worsen nation wide because doctors choose to specialize; that’s where the money is.  

While people come from all over the world for cancer and heart treatment at Houston’s sprawling medical center, there are many Texans hoping and praying that can snare a doctor in their county.  At one time, there were some desolate counties having a hard time attracting certified teachers.  When the school board decided to include housing, that changed.  Maybe Texas needs to offer more attractive doctor bait.

OK GIRLS , HERE WE GO.   I AM ON MEDICARE—

I AM 70— AND  I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT.  IT IS PERFECT FOR ME. 

I DO CARRY  A 2ND HEALTH INS. I PAY FOR ,YSELF.  MY 2ND INSURANCE COMPANY IS PERFECTION IN A NUTSHELL …. TOGETHER I PAY LITTLE OUT OF MY OWN POCKET FOR  MYSELF.

WHAT MY HUSBAND  AND I THINK IF=S THIS.

IF  THE GOV. WANTS TO INSURE EVERYONE  WHY IN THE WORLD CAN ‘NT  THEY GET IT INTO THEIR HEADS  PUT EVERYONE ON MEDICARE OR MEDICAID  AND LEAVE THE DEATH PANEL ROT IN HELL AND THROW AWAY THAT STUPID HEALTH CARE PLAN" HE " WANTS TO GET PASSED .  THEY HAVE WHAT IS NEEDED ALREADY AND SO USE IT .  STOP THE NEXT REVELUTION OR CIVIL WAR  BEFOR IT GETS  ANY FARRTHER. 

THAT PART IN THIS ONE HE WANTS OT PASS SO BADLY HAS  A PLACE IN IT WHERE  THE PEOPEL WITH LIKE M.S OR SAY POLIO  ARE GOING TO BE PUT TO DEATH BECAUSE THEY CAN’T HELP THEIR GOVERNMENT  AND ARE A WASTE OF GOVERNMENT MONIES.  SEE  AND THEN THE PART WHERE A WHEEL CHAIR IS CONSIDERED A LUXERY ITEM………….THERE IS WHERE YOU CAN TELL WHOEVER WROTE THAT PART NEVER HAD  A LOVED ONE OR BEEN AROUND  A HANDICAPPED PERSON.   LUXERY IS  FOR THE HELPERS FOR THE HANDICAPPED.  WHY DO THEY HATE US SO MUCH? WHY DO THEY HATE THE HANDICAPPED ?????? WHY DO THEY WANT TO SAY GIVE THE HELPERS OF   THE HANDICAPPED  HELL FOR HELPING THEMM OUT. ?  IT MAKES VERY LITTLE  SENSE……WHAT DO THEY THINK ABOUT THE HAIRPINS THTA THEIR WIVES USE IN THEIR HAIR????CAN THEY ASSOCIATE THAT ??? PROBABLY NOT!

I have been on Medicare for 20+ years. I also have a supplimental policy. I have never had a problem with Medicare nor have I been exposed to many doctors who refuse to take Medicare-and I live in the NY Metropoliton area, one of the most expensive in the country. Those of my friends who have joined HMO’s are not as contented with their treatment as I have been. To quote one of them, "The HMO’s are great until you get sick!"

Admittedly, the premiums on my supplimental policy increase every year. The minute you deal with insurance companies it costs more. After all, they are the "middle men". I feel that Part D is a failure. The minute Congress passed part D the price of drugs went up.  Between that and the monthly insurance fee (which went up the second year) we’re actually paying almost as much as we did without part D.

I therefore feel that if they hand over the healthcare system to insurance companies instead of having medicare for all it will end up hurting us all. Yes, it will probably mean more taxes, but I’d rather give my money to the government in the form of taxes than give it to the greedy insurance cos.

I’m 79 and I’ve been on Mecicare since I became eligible and I have been very happy with it.  My husband died 6 months ago, and he also was on Medicare, and without it we would have been bankrupt long ago.  The last 6 months of my husbands life was made bearable by very good hospice care. 

I am concerned about the rising cost of health care, but I am sure there are enough smart minds out there that can figure out a way to give everyone in our country the best health care posible.  

I wish we could come to the place in this country where paying more in taxes is considered a positive thing, and not something to be avoided at all cost.  We have paid a lot of taxes in our lifetime, but when I think of all the services I have received, it was worth it, and that includes local, stat and national.  And yes, I know that sometimes taxes seem unfair and out of whack but maybe we’ll get that right someday.