Could Buying Into Medicare For Those Over 50 Be a Solution For Those Uninsured and Medicare Itself?
Posted: Saturday, February 05, 2011
by Iris Taub
This country is facing multiple financial problems and the biggest one is the question as to whether Medicare will exist in the future!
Those of us who are insured and are not worrying about retiring and collecting really don't think about it but there is an epidemic involving older citizens who are not eligible to collect traditional Medicare and can not afford the insurance that is financially out of reach due to the high cost that the insurance companies place on insuring older people.
It is doubtful that we will ever see a program that will cover those who can not afford insurance on their own come to pass. Obama care was a wonderful suggestion but many states have ruled it unconstitional to force Americans to pay for insurance and with the ever raising unemployment numbers and the baby boomers reaching 65, there has to be a solution to this problem.
At this rate, our so called recession, is putting a huge financial burden on the middle class and if we don't find a solution to this problem, the middle class will soon be just a memory and then there will be two classes in this country, the very rich, and the very poor.
Even those who choose to collect at 62 are not safe and there is no mention that they would be eligible to collect Medicare health insurance benefits as well so they would be stuck with the responsibility of insuring themselves until that magical age of 65!
What I don't understand is why the gov't has not thought about a simple option that would help many people who fall into the over 50 group and under 65 group. Medicare is running out of funds and these people have no insurance. Even with a fixed income, I am sure many would be willing to pay a reasonable monthly premium to have peace of mind of having insurance. There is no insurance company presently who offers a special rate for those between 50 and 65. What if Medicare would offer those in that age bracket the opportunity to pay $250.00 to have the coverage that others receive when they collect Medicare? Money would be coming in and people would have the insurance. Seems simple doesn't it?You are not forcing those to pick it, just giving them a reasonable alternative of having the option of getting affordable insurance. It really is food for thought!
I would love to hear from my fellow authors and get their input on my suggestion?
Hope to hear from you soon!
Iris S Taub
Parkland, Florida
This Article has been viewed 1,477 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)I'm 62 now but I've been on medicare disability for 30 years now. I had an accident which left me disabled. Yes Iris something has got to give to help those who can't afford health care.
Good article with a good messageOnce Again David,
I have to thank you for taking the time to read my article and respond to it.
I too am on disability but those who are not and are unemployed or just can't afford health insurance should have a back up plan. Some states do offer low cost assisted insurance which is based on a sliding scale of how much your income is but that is also done by county and Broward doesn't offer it although I did hear Palm Beach did. My husband was laid off two years ago and we can't afford health insurance so we are walking on egg shells that no problems arise. Those who are talking about taking medicare at 62 might be excited about getting their checks but I never saw anything written up as to whether they will be entitled to Medicare insurance as well and I think that this should be made clear so that those who want to collect early are prepared.
I do hope that we find a solution to a very serious situation.
Iris S. Taub
This article makes some very valid points. If the un (or under) employed were permitted to pay into Medicare, the general health of this country would improve, and the oft-forgotten mentally ill, who would go for services but cannot afford it, were able to seek assistance, there would be fewer homeless people on the street. As a mental health advocate, I feel very strongly about this. Not every homeless person is a "deadbeat". Some are not getting services because they simply do not have the money. If the baby boomers, veterans, etc., were permitted to have affordable health care as Ms. Taub suggested, one would see a positive affect on our society in reduction of crime, smoking cessation, and overall disease reduction.Hi Sue,
You made some even more valid points which I totally didn't think about. We do seem to push aside the mentally ill and I didn't realize that they are also affected if they don't have insurance.
Thanks for taking the time to read the article and also to bring some new points to this article.
Iris S. Taub
Hi Iris,
Your points are well made. I've had a family member who is considered uninsurable by the private medical insurance companies for some years now. Our state has coverage we can buy, but by law, it can NOT have competitive rates (meaning it is required to be 30% higher than whatever the state average is for a comparable private policy). With a very large deductible, I am fortunate that I can afford to buy it anyway just for peace of mind, although I'm sure many who really need it cannot.
I think one of the earlier versions of the health care overhaul bill passed last year had provisions to extend medicare coverage and allow buy-ins, but the Republicans refused to consider it, saying it was another step toward nationalized health care. I believe it is disingenuous for the Republicans to say that they must completely repeal the existing bill. That accomplishes nothing. If it needs tweaking, then do that. Nothing will be accomplished by starting from scratch except some sort of political nose thumbing. The fact is, that it has become virtually impossible for anyone of any age to be approved for private health insurance with ANY kind of pre-existing condition.Hi Jean,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my article and your comments. Unfortunately, I do not follow and do not participate on Tweeting but maybe it would make sense to put it out there on facebook! You never know who is reading it anyway so maybe the right people will pick it up and put it out there, sort of speak. I love this site and find that it is a fantastic way to get your thoughts out there and get some wonderful comments and suggestions from my fellow authors.
Iris S Taub
There are so many holes in the Medicare- Social Security plan now- that it resembles a sieve- If the greedy politicians had have kept their hands out of what was supposed to have been a sacred cow-borrowing from Peter to pay Paul- we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now. There would have been plenty of money- there was- until it was "borrowed."
One big gap in this so called plan, is that when a woman becomes a widow in her fifties- if she's not lucky enough to already have a job with benefits and income- she's up s*** creek. She's forced to try to find a job -next to impossible at that age, or beg off relatives,or get remarried if she can- just to survive. I was lucky enough to already have a job and insurance coverage- so was able to continue working until retirement age, but not everyone can do that. Millions of women fall through this gap everyday.
After they stole all the SS funds- they look at us all squirrely and say- sorry- there's no more money left.......Sad! Great article Iris- Thanks- Always- EllaThanks Ella,
Women have always been behind the eight ball. Even with so called equal rights, we are the ones who had to face so many hurdles it is no wonder we are not all champions. There is a reason why they say women are stronger than men emotionally, we have to be since there are so many obstacles that we have to dodge on a regular basis. You have of course mentioned a few.
You sound like a very strong woman and you were indeed lucky enough to be gainfully employed and had insurance until you were of retirement age.
When they say that we can all make a difference, I say it is not what you know but who you know to make it work!
Until this problem will affect one of the greedy politicians you have mentioned or someone near and dear to them, they will of course ignore this serious problem and also overlook one logical and simple remedy
Continue to stick to your convictions and stay strong!
Regards,
Iris
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