Paul Ryan / Trump want to privatize medicare

I've been sounding like Debbie Downer, so, for those of us currently over 55, there will be no change.... as of now. Under 55, here's your govt check to go buy private insurance with, but don't come begging us for more money if it doesn't cover what insurance you want.

During the campaign, coverage of the issues was blotted out by coverage of Hillary Clinton’s emails and Donald Trump’s broad suite of sociopathic tendencies. And of the issues that did receive any attention, a conspicuously missing one was Paul Ryan’s plan to push Medicare beneficiaries into private health insurance. Reporters just assumed that, since Trump never talked about it, it won’t happen. But Paul Ryan still wants it to happen. And in a Fox News interview with Bret Baier, Ryan said Medicare privatization is on.

source

So, we shadow boxed over everything but issues and each party's platform. The Republican Party won and will now carry out their party platform

Go here to see entire side by side comparison of party platforms

Medicare Structural Reform

DP: “Democrats will fight any attempts by Republicans in Congress to privatize, voucherize, or ‘phase Out’ Medicare as we know it.”

RP: “Impose no changes for persons [currently] 55 or older. Give others the option of traditional Medicare or transition to a premium-support model designed to strengthen patient choice.”

Give every person eligible for Medicare in the future who is also under 55 years of age an income-adjusted stipend (with catastrophic protection) to put towards health expenses.

.....

Medicare Eligibility

DP: Optional Medicare buy-in for persons 55 or older

RP: “Set a more realistic age for eligibility in light of today’s longer life span.” (The Center interprets this to mean raising the age of Medicare eligibility.)

decided not to reply

a reply to: desert

The campaign did focus on issues, if you didn't focus on what the Mainstream Media was saying. Both Clinton and Trump had them on their respective websites.

But nowhere on Donald Trump's website did it mention Medicare reform. I think that this issue was pretty much forced on Donald Trump by Ryan, after the election. (Paul Ryan Says: "You want Congress to work with you, you work with me... got it Donald?")

a reply to: marg6043

Oh Marg, if only I could believe you. I don't know if you get paid to believe that or if you are that gullible. Why would the republicans waste all this power. They can finally get rid of those expensive entitlements. They got camps planned to take the trash out to.

originally posted by: lordcomac

Notice how the USPS hasn't gone private- there's no way to profit doing what they do.

Well this is not correct. The USPS could legalize the act of putting mail in a mailbox, and so effectively give a private option. The USPS would then be irrelevant in hardly any time at all. People are getting attacked by the government for putting mail in mailboxes, its a disgrace due the violation of the freedom of speech.

This is a terrible idea in my opinion.

Healthcare for profit is one great failure of capitalism, perhaps the greatest failure.

I do not understand why most of the US fails to comprehend this.

Can't someone just start a twitter campaign to let Trump know his constituents think this is a crock?

Given how fast he removed the lobbyists from his transition team, perhaps he can be influenced.

a reply to: carewemust

Trump early on in his campaign, December 2015

"So, you've been paying into Social Security and Medicare...but we are not going to cut your Social Security and we're not cutting your Medicare. We are going to take jobs back from all these countries that are ripping us off and we are going to become a wealthy country again. And we are going to be able to save your Social Security. We are not taking it...so there is tremendous waste, fraud, and abuse. What we are going to do is we're going to save Medicare, we're going to save Social Security, we are not going to raise the age, and we're not going to do all the things that everybody else is talking about doing. They are all talking about doing it and you don't have to."

What we all need to understand is the power of those with the wealth
The billionaires and their allies have built a private political machine without precedent.

That article is from the same time as Trump said the above. This "private political machine without precedent"" is who really won this election. The Koch Private Party is who really won; Koch built up from a 1% showing in the 1980 election to finally having his ideology fully inserted and actionable into the Republican Party. It took years, but it finally paid off.

Trump's mind was changed after billionaire Robert Mercer (a believer in the Koch ideology) financed his campaign by having Bannon, Conway, and Citizens United David Bossie finally run the campaign. They are the ones responsible for taking Trump across the finish line. They are the ones who gave Trump his final ideology.

“We urge the repeal of federal campaign finance laws, and the immediate abolition of the despotic Federal Election Commission.”

“We favor the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs.”

We oppose any compulsory insurance or tax-supported plan to provide health services, including those which finance abortion services.”

“We also favor the deregulation of the medical insurance industry.”

“We favor the repeal of the fraudulent, virtually bankrupt, and increasingly oppressive Social Security system. Pending that repeal, participation in Social Security should be made voluntary.”

“We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service. The present system, in addition to being inefficient, encourages governmental surveillance of private correspondence. Pending abolition, we call for an end to the monopoly system and for allowing free competition in all aspects of postal service.”

“We oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including capital gains taxes.” “We support the eventual repeal of all taxation.”

“As an interim measure, all criminal and civil sanctions against tax evasion should be terminated immediately.”

“We support repeal of all law which impede the ability of any person to find employment, such as minimum wage laws.”

“We advocate the complete separation of education and State. Government schools lead to the indoctrination of children and interfere with the free choice of individuals. Government ownership, operation, regulation, and subsidy of schools and colleges should be ended.”

“We condemn compulsory education laws … and we call for the immediate repeal of such laws.”

“We support the repeal of all taxes on the income or property of private schools, whether profit or non-profit.”

“We support the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency.”

“We support abolition of the Department of Energy.”

“We call for the dissolution of all government agencies concerned with transportation, including the Department of Transportation.”

“We demand the return of America's railroad system to private ownership. We call for the privatization of the public roads and national highway system.”

“We specifically oppose laws requiring an individual to buy or use so-called "self-protection" equipment such as safety belts, air bags, or crash helmets.”

“We advocate the abolition of the Federal Aviation Administration.”

“We advocate the abolition of the Food and Drug Administration.”

“We support an end to all subsidies for child-bearing built into our present laws, including all welfare plans and the provision of tax-supported services for children.”

“We oppose all government welfare, relief projects, and ‘aid to the poor’ programs. All these government programs are privacy-invading, paternalistic, demeaning, and inefficient. The proper source of help for such persons is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.”

“We call for the privatization of the inland waterways, and of the distribution system that brings water to industry, agriculture and households.”

“We call for the repeal of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.”

“We call for the abolition of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”

“We support the repeal of all state usury laws.”

source

Ryan, Pence, the Republican Party.... they have been and are all in with the Koch ideology. The RP has not been the party of one's father or grandfather. Over the years, it has been taken further rightward than Ronald Reagan could ever imagine. When people voted for Trump, they got Koch.

We now live in a world about to be fashioned into the one envisioned by the Koch Bros. That's the reality. Join together and fight it if you want, just know your opponent and what you're up against.

a reply to: desert

100% capitalism.

It must be nice to win the genetic lottery, either through inheritance or intellect and have no compassion for humanity.

This philosophy creates a world of sharks and prey.

Only a Sociopath would agree with this philosophy. Or someone too ignorant to see it's downfall.

a reply to: darkbake

I hope it all crashes and burns. They can come and lock me up before I will EVER spend a dime on forced medial insurance.

a reply to: MOMof3

I have research in politics for a long time, right now you are right, Republicans hold the power, but guess what, in pass occasions they had lose that power due to following unfavorable polices that the public do not want, this time they will be more careful, the power is too good, to lose it to something like Medicare that already is been protected until for the next decade and more

That is how I base my take of the issue.

I wish I could get pay, trust me I wish

a reply to: desert

No, Bush took the last 4 years of his administration trying to push the SS privatization, remember the town meetings in small towns in America? or perhaps you were a bit younger to remember, he tried, oh yeah, he tried.

Guess what happen, people didn't wanted the privatization and never happen.

a reply to: desert

What is this? You can get SS benefits without ever having paied into the thing......thats why its going broke. No surplus for young workers.....just a pipe dream.

originally posted by: darkbake
Paul Ryan and the Trump team want to privatize medicare. Paul Ryan says "Because of Obamacare, medicare is broke." However, that is not true. Obamacare has extended the medicare trust fund by 11 years.

"Medicare" was the name originally given to a program providing medical care for families of individuals serving in the military as part of the Dependents' Medical Care Act passed in 1956.[5] President Eisenhower held the first White House Conference on Aging in January 1961, in which the creation of a program of health care for social security beneficiaries was proposed.[6][7] In July 1965,[8] under the leadership of President Lyndon Johnson, Congress enacted Medicare under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide health insurance to people age 65 and older, regardless of income or medical history.[9][10] Before Medicare's creation, approximately 60% of those over 65 had health insurance, with coverage often unavailable or unaffordable to many others, because older adults paid more than three times as much for health insurance as younger people.

Medicare is a successful program that does not need to be changed. Privatizing it could raise costs, because companies need to make a profit and medicare does not.

During his campaign, Trump pledged not to cut entitlement spending like Social Security and Medicare or Medicaid.

During the campaign, Donald Trump often promised to be a different kind of Republican, one who would represent the interests of working-class voters who depend on major government programs. “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid,” he declared, under the headline “Why Donald Trump Won’t Touch Your Entitlements.”

But now, Trump has made a 180 on this promise. Will he cut benefits to veterans? What about the disabled?

Paul Ryan Says Medicare Privatization Is On

New York Times - The Medicare Killers

I work for state medicaid and to say medicare is fine and working is flat out bs. It's a poor excuse for medical insurance and too many under the age of 65 get it. Infact, in my state..most children are receiving ssi benefits on top of Medicare WITH medicaid benefits on top. Most under working ages and some of working age.

Some need the system and some dont. There is no oversight as most do not need to enter an office to get these benefits. In most cases, hand written letters faxed to the SS offices stating youre unemployed will get you into the system. It's broken..period. I take and deal with 60 people or more per day on medicaid and I'd say a quarter of them also get ssi and Medicare with never having a job in their lives and paying into the system.

You're an outsider looking and researching while I'm dealing with the real thing and the real thing is ugly and needs to broken down and rebuilt for what it was meant for. Seniors. Period.

a reply to: Anathros

Medicare just like Medicaid and SS has been abused for decades, that is the truth and you are right, but the mentality of the government is that to benefit the majority they allowed a few system riders, right now is more of the second than ever before, when somebody that never pay into the system is allowed to get it.

originally posted by: marg6043
a reply to: Anathros

Medicare just like Medicaid and SS has been abused for decades, that is the truth and you are right, but the mentality of the government is that to benefit the majority they allowed a few system riders, right now is more of the second than ever before, when somebody that never pay into the system is allowed to get it.

It's a frustrating job at times. I'll pull up a family of 7. I kid you not, 2 illegal immigrant parents with 5 children on medicaid with each child having around 50k worth of paid out benefits on top knowing that the cost of birthing each child was also on the taxpayer because the mother and father arent paying the hospital bills. I don't want to be predudice but it's hard not to be when you really KNOW how immigration affects the average working John and Jane. Maybe as I get older I'm becoming a bigot or maybe the word bigot is thrown around in place of what should actually be called "truth".

Maybe I'm just jaded and I'm sick of being taxed for the lazy, uneducated, and the poor. I still believe in a hand up but I've grown bitter towards the hand outs.

originally posted by: jrod
This is a terrible idea in my opinion.

Healthcare for profit is one great failure of capitalism, perhaps the greatest failure.

I do not understand why most of the US fails to comprehend this.

I agree 100%

Because when people are sick, physically and mentally hurting, they are basically down and out. The Medical system in the USA is able to take advantage of people in this state, it's very disturbing.

Last year my son got sick and had the runs for over a week, so I took him to the doctors. I told the doctor we only had catastrophic coverage because Obamacare had pushed our premiums monthly, so we had to adjust it.

The doctor wanted to do a stool, so I said "sure just as long as I know the costs" Long story short they did 7 tests without consulting me and I received a bill two weeks later for $1200.00. I was furious.

I called and told them a typical stool sample cost in the USA was between $50 and $120 dollars, and since they didn't consult me that I wasn't paying. The doctor blamed the lab and the lab blamed the doctor. smh What a frikin scam.

The doctor said they would extend a one time courtesy of $120, and she did it in a condescending manner, so I decided to move on from the pediatrician. And what's ironic is my son's disappeared the next day, after the visit to the doctors.

Our medical and prescription drug industry is absolutely corrupt, and until it's addressed it will never get fixed. It doesn't appear the Democrats, or Republicans have the guts, ethics, or attention span to fix it.

We are the only civilized society that can't seem to make our medical industry ethically work for everyone.

originally posted by: marg6043

When somebody that never pay into the system is allowed to get it.

That's a real problem, especially if the numbers are into the millions.

originally posted by: darkbake
Paul Ryan and the Trump team want to privatize medicare. Paul Ryan says "Because of Obamacare, medicare is broke." However, that is not true. Obamacare has extended the medicare trust fund by 11 years.

"Medicare" was the name originally given to a program providing medical care for families of individuals serving in the military as part of the Dependents' Medical Care Act passed in 1956.[5] President Eisenhower held the first White House Conference on Aging in January 1961, in which the creation of a program of health care for social security beneficiaries was proposed.[6][7] In July 1965,[8] under the leadership of President Lyndon Johnson, Congress enacted Medicare under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide health insurance to people age 65 and older, regardless of income or medical history.[9][10] Before Medicare's creation, approximately 60% of those over 65 had health insurance, with coverage often unavailable or unaffordable to many others, because older adults paid more than three times as much for health insurance as younger people.

Medicare is a successful program that does not need to be changed. Privatizing it could raise costs, because companies need to make a profit and medicare does not.

During his campaign, Trump pledged not to cut entitlement spending like Social Security and Medicare or Medicaid.

During the campaign, Donald Trump often promised to be a different kind of Republican, one who would represent the interests of working-class voters who depend on major government programs. “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid,” he declared, under the headline “Why Donald Trump Won’t Touch Your Entitlements.”

But now, Trump has made a 180 on this promise. Will he cut benefits to veterans? What about the disabled?

Paul Ryan Says Medicare Privatization Is On

New York Times - The Medicare Killers

The problem with ALL medicine in this nation... is it is a monopoly.

Price fixing and collusion, restraint or interference in consumer markets is ALREADY against the law under the Clayton and Sherman Anti-Trust acts of over 100 years ago.

Read more here:

...and here:

Excellent summary of the real problem.

I want SS privatization. I'd gladly option out, take the money I've contributed into it, and invest it myself.