For those who oppose universal health care, will you turn down Medicare when you reach 65? (continue...)?

Question

If you are 65 or older and oppose universal health care, did you turn down Medicare?

blueiron - I do work in the health care industry and I see A LOT of people without insurance and the cost is passed on to all of you because the bills still have to be paid.

Answer 1

I think a lot of people will change their minds as fewer and fewer employers provide health insurance for their employees and retirees.

Between 1987 and 2005, the number of firms offering health benefits dropped from 70% to 59.5% and that is apparently a trend that will continue as the cost of health care benefits continues to rise.

http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml

I think there are also a lot of misconceptions about employer provided health benefits:

First, a lot of people who are adamently opposed to subsidized insurance don't stop to think that their employer provided health care is subsidized insurance. The cost is subsidized by the customers who purchase the goods and services that the employers sell. The cost of those benefits shows up in every car, truck, motorcycle, refrigerator, washer, dryer, stove, dishwasher or other product or service that the employers produce. If the employer is a government entity (federal, state, county, city, etc.) the costs of those benefits are passed on to the taxpayers.

The only people who don't have subsidized insurance are those who pay 100% of the cost by themselves.

People think that getting subsidized insurance will reduce their choice -- how many people who get insurance from their employers really have any choice in the insurance they get. Most employers chose a plan based on how much it costs and that's the plan that's offered -- take it or leave it.

Many employers no longer cover dependents and many employers now require employees to contribute toward the cost of insurance.

Getting health insurance from an employer ties people to an employer and creates a continuity of coverage problem -- I know many people who stay in dead-end or unhappy work situations simply because they get health insurance from the employer. People who lose their jobs usually lose their benefits unless they can afford to continue their coverage through COBRA which is very expensive and temporary.

The cost of employee health benefits has driven employers and jobs out of this country. Companies leave and take the jobs with them because they can do business for less elsewhere.

The cost of employee health benefits is also a driving factor behind employers who hire illegal aliens -- they generally don't pay benefits to illegal aliens, hence it lowers the cost of doing business.

I believe that employer provided insurance has also played a big role in the ever increasing cost of health care -- people who get insurance at someone else's expense don't very often question the cost of the medical treatment that someone else is paying for. Having employer provided health coverage also means people are more likely to use that coverage for minor illnesses or injuries that they otherwise wouldn't seek treatment for. The truth is the more insurance is used, the more it costs. That's not a good thing, especially when a high percentage of medical bills contain errors.

http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2007/10/29/medical_bill_errors_increasingly_common/

It's also not a good thing when people just accept the price that's stated and don't question it. In 1997 I had to have surgery. My doctor told me that I could have the procedure at a satellite surgical center close to my home. About a week before I had the surgery, I found out that by going an extra four miles to the main hospital, I could save over $12,000.00 on the cost of the surgery. When I questioned the insurance company about why they pre-approved the surgery at the satellite center, they claimed they didn't know the hosiptal had a dual billing schedule.

People have a lot of misconceptions about Medicare -- the truth is that it doesn't cover as much as people think it will (I know that from personal experience -- my mother was very ill during the last two years of her life and Medicare covered very little of her care). That's why so many people buy Medicare supplemental insurance (my mother's supplemental insurance ate up about 40% of her total Social Security check).

Do I think there's anything wrong with getting health benefits from your employer, no. I just think people need to be honest about what it costs and who picks up the tab.

Answer 2

No, I won't because I have been paying into the darn thing for many years.

The simple fact is I currently work in the health field and know just how bad Medicare and Medicaid is. I would not wish it on everybody (and certainly not someone I cared about).

To be honest universal health care scares the dickens out of me.

Please talk to more people who are working in the health industry, you might change your mind about this.

Answer 3

What a question! Guarenteed to root out all of those idiots that don't like the idea That in a country like this, you have to walk the walk in order to talk the talk.
If you don't like poor people having access to the medicine that could save your health, or your life.
I also don't believe youll get many takers on your idea.

Answer 4

Ha Ha...good one. I know my parents didn't. And my dad has a few mill in the bank.

EDIT: Old people can work. Just look at any McDonald's. My dad is 79 and still works part time and makes good money (masters in civil engineering).

Answer 5

Yes.

Unlike many members of the "greatest generation" I do not feel that it is moral to rob my grandchildren of their inheritance by burdening them with trillions of dollars of debt.

Answer 6

Since I've been paying for Medicare and social security since I was 16 sure I will. If the government is going to take money out of my pocket and promise me something for taking away my ability to do as I please with that money I sure am going to collect or they can repay me that money with interest............

Answer 7

No. But i do think that democrats that don't feel like their paying enough taxes should just cut a big fat check to the good old USA.

Answer 8

Who's footing the bill? This isn't free. Be carefull what you wish for, you may get it.

Answer 9

Completely different. I think able bodied people should take care of themselves. Young children, the elderly, and mentaly retarded people are not always capable of caring for themselves. Grown adults who need the government to take care of them are pathetic losers. Why should I work hard just so the government can take my money and give it to some loser who refuses to get an education and a job.

Answer 10

no, I've already been FORCED to pay for it and it will supplement my heath insurance