As seen in an AAA press release:
The American Academy of Actuaries will discuss reform options to address Medicare’s and Social Security’s financial challenges during a series of briefings on Capitol Hill. The Academy will also highlight both programs’ recent trustees’ reports and the need for reform. During the first session, the Academy will present its new monograph on Medicare reform options—a compilation and overview of options for public policymakers to consider when addressing Medicare’s short- and long-term financial difficulties. During the second session, the Academy will review its monograph on Social Security reform options, which provides a broad range of options for reform as well as the implications of these options on overall program finances and participants in various circumstances.
If I’m not mistaken, the monographs in question are available on the AAA website (Medicare and Social Security).
It’s nice to see the gospel being preached. However, given that we’re already seeiming to be in full swing on the ‘08 presidential election campaign (only 514 days left!), I doubt that Congress will have the courage to touch this particular political third rail and enact reform.
1 response so far ↓
1 Michael Lyon // 9 Jun 2007 at 12:51 pm
ALERT: “Privatize Medicare? NO WAY!” video available
“Privatize Medicare? NO WAY!” shows how the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act threatens to privatize Medicare, irreparably harming over 40 million seniors and disabled people, and driving Medicare itself into bankruptcy and oblivion. We need to solve the problems of both Medicare and the uninsured by extending Medicare to cover everyone with expanded benefits: Medicare for All, also known as Single-Payer healthcare.
More than just a drug program, the Medicare Modernization Act is a plan to drive healthier Medicare recipients out of traditional fee-for-service Medicare and into private plans like HMOs, PPOs and private FFS plans, which will profit since their patients will need little care. Traditional Medicare would be left with the sickest, most expensive patients, and would have reduced funding because of fewer patients and stringent new cost controls.
In addition, Medicare would become politically marginalized because the Medicare Modernization Act encourages higher income seniors to leave Medicare, both by charging higher premiums if they stay, and by giving tax reductions if they leave to set up Health Savings Accounts. If Medicare becomes a program for low-income seniors, it will become politically vulnerable to further cuts.
Scrap the Medicare Modernization Act! Instead of being ditched, Medicare needs to be expanded to cover everyone. Call it Medicare-for-All, or Single-Payer Healthcare, we need equal, comprehensive, low-cost, government-financed healthcare for everyone. As market-based healthcare continues to melt down, we need to step up to make a new realty happen.
“Privatize Medicare? NO WAY” also shows examples of what the San Francisco Gray Panthers and the California Alliance for Retired Americans have done to organize against the Medicare Modernization Act and promote Single-Payer/Medicare for All.
You can see “Privatize Medicare? NO WAY” by streaming video at http://mlyon01.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/privatize-medicare-no-way/
You can also request a DVD or Microsoft PowerPoint version suitable for group presentation with television or computer/projector by e-mailing mlyon01@comcast.net . (The resolution on DVD and PowerPoint is far better than the streaming version.) We are also available to make presentation to your group in the San Francisco Bay Area.