Concerned About the Future of Medicare

Tina2

I am retired, living on Social Security and savings. I have Medicare A and B, plus D. I am worried that the changes to Medicare being discussed could severely compromise my ability to cover/pay for future cancer treatment that may be very costly.

Anyone else?

Tina

jobur

Me too. I am collecting SSDI and just made the transition to Medicare. DH is on Obamacare for a few more years (hopefully) until he turns 65. I feel all of these programs are in jeopardy now. Thank goodness DH is healthy and I appear to have oversaved for retirement. Those savings will be rapidly depleted if Medicare goes to a voucher or HSA model.

pwilmarth

So we should all be aware that Donald Trump told a tale during the campaign about "rescinding" Obamacare as soon as he entered office.

Within two days of being elected, he changed his tune to: We're not going to rescind it to We're going to fix it.

But he didn't say what he thinks needs fixing.

Ultimately, this is Washington DC and trying to change healthcare funding is a major project. He can't tell what he's gonna fix, which means nothing is going to change.

nihahi

He didn't "tell a tale".....he told a lie. He told many lies.

jobur

From the NYT today-

A Battle to Change Medicare Is Brewing, Whether Trump Wants It or Not

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/24/us/politics/donald-trump-medicare-republicans.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=b-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

LuAnnH

I am concerned what may happen to medicare and SSDI soon.  I honestly can't see how anyone can deny these benefits to those deserving.  Everyone has paid money from every paycheck since back in the day when they started working to protect our potential future.  I think there will be major class action law suits if the benefits were to be stopped.  The only problem would be what do we do in the interim while the lawyers battle it out...

Artista928

SSDI is funded through 2021. If you haven't discovered this forum and are in SSDI/SSA, check it out. Accurate info, very helpful people posted here about everything to do with SS disability.

http://www.ssdfacts.com/forum

sharethehope

Have you contacted AARP to ask about Medicare?  They might be able to give some insight.

Tina2

sharethehope,

I doubt that AARP has any more insight than any of us here.They would be guessing as well. We're all concerned about what may happen to Medicare in the future, and not even the pundits have been able to do anything except speculate. Unfortunately, some of us understandably fear the worst, particularly those who are economically vulnerable and dealing with Stage IV "chronic" disease that is costly to monitor and treat.

Tina

Meow13

Tina, I was wondering what Paul Ryan really has planned about privatisation of Medicare. He seems to have spent sometime looking at how to finance the health system. Giving people tax credits to help pay for their medical but if you don't have much income not sure how that will work. Also how will it help reduce the cost, competition in the drug industries. Seems kind of loosy defined. I don't have to worry about it now but in 7 years I'll be on medicare if I am still here. My husband is on it, with the supplemental we're paying over $500 a month for him. It will be like a morgage payment by the time I have to pay too.

Artista928

It's probably going to be more like Medicaid in that people who have assets/money pay more than those who don't.

Madelineg

you know the cost of Medicare supplements vary from state to state. What I pay $94. For part G which has a $160 a year deductible, the same part G in places like NY,NJ and Florida cost over $300. I also have A,B, and D.I changed D to a more expensive plan$70 because with it my hormone therapy drug is $32 vs the $175 I was paying under my old plan.

Madelineg

you know the cost of Medicare supplements vary from state to state. What I pay $94. For part G which has a $160 a year deductible, the same part G in places like NY,NJ and Florida cost over $300. I also have A,B, and D.I changed D to a more expensive plan$70 because with it my hormone therapy drug is $32 vs the $175 I was paying under my old plan.

sharethehope

tina2

I do understand the concern over Medicare as I too am economically vulnerable relying on SSI & a sm. pension. I also pay a high price for supplement insurance & have been doing chemo for 3+ yrs.  AARP does have its ear to the ground on such issues but you are right you're probably smarter. It was just a thought. Whatever changes are made it would be a real political slog to get changes through. I'd just like a decent increase. The last one gave nothing since the cost for Medicare went up so that's 2 yrs with no increase on income but plenty of increases for everything else. I have no family so there's no possibility of hand outs. Yah I understand economic vulnerability.

pupmom

And, we can trust what trump says, because......?

Artista928

Hopefully the narcissist will be more concerned about re-election potential and not piss off the masses, which messing with MC & SS/SSDI would create a huge uproar.

cive

As it is, when the state of CA stops paying for my Xgeva copay this year, I will have to stop getting them.  There is no way I can afford the 20% copay.  At least I got a year's worth.  I'm not sure we won't get a COLA after the republicans pass a budget for the entire year.  The current budget runs out in March.