Did I only Imagine Medicaid/Medicare?

People on both sides of the health care debate seem be forgetting that we already have a means-tested (and Socialist! ) health care program in the form of Medicaid, and a program targeting the aged, in Medicare.

Wouldn't it make sense to compare the Obama/Democrat plan to the pre-existing programs, and then decide if it's something that we want? I haven't seen anybody, anywhere, actually do this.

Or did I only imagine that Medicaid/Medicare exist?

[edit on 13-8-2009 by theWCH]

No, you didn't imagine it, I am on both Medicare and Medicaid, and yes, they are both Socialist, if you want to call it that. Medicare came with my social security disability, it pays 80% of all or any medical expense I may incur, and Medicaid pays the premium for Medicare ($60 a month) and pays the 20% that is not covered. Now I hate Medicaid, this is pure welfare, and even though I have it, I would rather not have it.

I do not understand why the new Health Care plan isn't modelled after Medicare?

President Johnson signing the Medicare program into law, July 30, 1965. Shown with the President (on the right in the photo) are (left to right) Mrs. Johnson; former President Harry Truman; Vice-President Hubert Humphrey; and Mrs. Truman. Photo courtesy of LBJ Presidential Library.

The plan works, makes very few mistakes, and is a NOT FOR PROFIT entity that is a part of the government, administrated by the government, and not privately owned. I am sincerely concerned why they don't just put everyone on Medicare and be done with it. I even have prescription insurance, I pay a small co-pay.

Originally posted by autowrench
No, you didn't imagine it, I am on both Medicare and Medicaid, and yes, they are both Socialist, if you want to call it that. Medicare came with my social security disability, it pays 80% of all or any medical expense I may incur, and Medicaid pays the premium for Medicare ($60 a month) and pays the 20% that is not covered. Now I hate Medicaid, this is pure welfare, and even though I have it, I would rather not have it.

I do not understand why the new Health Care plan isn't modelled after Medicare?

President Johnson signing the Medicare program into law, July 30, 1965. Shown with the President (on the right in the photo) are (left to right) Mrs. Johnson; former President Harry Truman; Vice-President Hubert Humphrey; and Mrs. Truman. Photo courtesy of LBJ Presidential Library.

The plan works, makes very few mistakes, and is a NOT FOR PROFIT entity that is a part of the government, administrated by the government, and not privately owned. I am sincerely concerned why they don't just put everyone on Medicare and be done with it. I even have prescription insurance, I pay a small co-pay.

Who pays for Medicare/Medicaid right now? Who would pay for it if you add 200 million people into it?