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Medicare, Medicaid, Healthcare Reform: A Dilemma

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid comprise a real and growing problem. Every elected government official, along with their appointees, for the past forty years ought to go around with their heads bowed in shame for their lack of fortitude in allowing this mess to go this far. It is, and has been, a Godsend for the elderly and I thank Him daily for it. But, as most government programs, it has been abused beyond measure. Presidents and congresses past, have used it to gain votes and public approval, adding every amenity they could think of, adding everyone they could find into it whether or not they had ever paid into it. I know of several self employed people who went years without paying at all, then as they approached retirement, to begin paying in to reach the necessary amount of work quarters.

The programs have been fraught with abuse and fraud for decades, probably since their inceptions. Many have been uncovered but you can rest assured there were many more, undiscovered. I respect our present administration for it’s plans to try and stop the waste and fraud that is currently rampant, yet they do not have to make the massive changes in the entire healthcare system to accomplish that.

We need to go after the problems and leave the good parts alone. And to expect to pay for a massive health care system, largely from the savings in Medicare and Medicaid is totally ludicrous. If they can stop the waste and fraud in those programs, they might become self sustaining, but no more. Read this comment:

Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., Louisiana Republican and a retired cardiac surgeon, told The Washington Times' editorial board yesterday that he gets upset when Democrats cite all health care spending -- not Medicare -- as the destructive force behind the nation's growing federal deficit. "Health care is expensive, but [Mr. Obama] is confusing the private sector with public finance and public programs," Mr. Boustany said. "Congress and the administration are being irresponsible for not acknowledging the dire problems we face with Medicare and what we need to do to fix that program and put it on a sound basis."  (Reform Medicare First: Editorial-The Washington Times 9-15-2009)

These programs may be the most gigantic problem facing this nation. Something absolutely has to be done, but depriving the elderly who have paid into them for forty to fifty years, of a reasonable income and health benefits is not the answer.

A total revamp of the system may be necessary, remove those who are unqualified for programs. Analyze closely those medical providers and prosecute any engaged in fraudulent activities, and if still not self supporting, raise the FICA deductions to meet the level of self sustenance. Plus, a move that would be unpopular but would help considerably, is to place a limit upon one’s eligibility based on his income from investments, retirement from his employer etc. To those whose annual income is $100,000 or more, are not in need of these programs. And they were designed for those who were in desperate need.

The GAO (Government Accountability Office)  has warned us that the interest on our national debt, plus the costs of the three entitlements (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) will consume every dollar taken in by the government by 2027. Folks, that is only eighteen years from now. And they estimate that those three programs, ALONE, will consume all government income by 2047. And our total income by those dates will require some very astute guidance between now and then. Our current rate of wild spending and trillion dollar annual deficits is comparable to entering into a huge black hole, never to return.

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