'Medicare by Choice' | Drudge Retort

Thursday, March 26, 2026

'Medicare by Choice'

A coalition of former congressional staffers and federal health leaders is putting forward a health care policy proposal ...

Posted by retort at 12:18 PM | 18 COMMENTS | permalink

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This proposal allows everyone the option of enrolling in traditional Medicare regardless of age, even allowing employers to select Medicare by Choice as their employees' workplace benefit. thehill.com/policy/healt ... [image or embed]
-- Democratic Activists (@democratswin.bsky.social) Mar 26, 2026 at 10:16 AM

Comments

"Medicare for All," the proposed single-payer national health care system that would replace private health insurance, proved to be a politically testy item during the 2024 election. Former Vice President Kamala Harris left it off her agenda when she became the Democratic nominee for president"

And then she lost.

But don't learn any lessons Dems.

Note this proposal isn't coming from any elected democrats. They're too cowardly.

#1 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-03-26 12:56 PM

The insurance is too DAMN HIGH!!

#2 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-03-26 12:58 PM

Now, let's see the uninsured Trumpy types vote against their own interests, vote in people who would never allow this to happen, and remain uninsured. And stupid.

#3 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-03-26 12:59 PM

But, if you think about it, said Trumpers are generally tweakers, or diabetic, or smoke two packs of cheap cigarettes a day. Plus, stupid people are more likely to get hurt.

Maybe it's best if they stay off the rolls...

#4 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-03-26 01:02 PM

We can't have Choices! That takes away my Freedom!
--Republicans

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-26 01:03 PM

NO!!! We should spend the money on bombs and Israel!!!

#6 | Posted by Brennnn at 2026-03-26 01:26 PM

"Note this proposal isn't coming from any elected democrats. They're too cowardly."

Don't get confused. People like the idea of Medicare For All.

The reality would be very different: For full-time workers, Medicare falls around the 70th percentile in comparison to other plans. That means 30% would have to take a lesser plan than they currently have.

And what 30% is that? The ones paid the most. Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Executives.

THAT's who'd suddenly turn against the idea, and join a coordinated effort among a whole bunch of wealthy interests: Insurance, Pharma, Hospitals, etc.

#7 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-03-26 01:31 PM

We would have had a public option if not for Joe Lieberman.

#8 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2026-03-26 01:38 PM

The reality would be very different: For full-time workers, Medicare falls around the 70th percentile in comparison to other plans. That means 30% would have to take a lesser plan than they currently have.

#7 | Posted by Danforth

A lesser plan is the one that bankrupts you when you get sick.

#9 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-03-26 02:27 PM

Sigh. For someone turning 65. Medicare part B 202.90 per month per person. Supplemental insurance 190.49 per month per person. So for a couple around 10,000 per year before co-pays, deductible and max out of pocket. We need to reduce the cost, not just shift them to third and fourth party payers.

#10 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-03-26 02:31 PM

I saw the headline and presumed it was a GOP concept of a plan to convince older folks to get off the dole.

#11 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2026-03-26 02:33 PM

Sigh. For someone turning 65. Medicare part B 202.90 per month per person. Supplemental insurance 190.49 per month per person. So for a couple around 10,000 per year before co-pays, deductible and max out of pocket. We need to reduce the cost, not just shift them to third and fourth party payers.
#10 | Posted by visitor_

Might want to check your abacus on that yearly amount, and your information on what Medicare is all about.

And unless you're dopey enough to fall for a Medicare Advantage plan, there's nothing after the deductible.

My wife's been on Medicare since March 2020, and I've been handling her Medicare. She's had plenty of medical care and a lot of pricey stuff done. I'm on Medicare also, as of last year.

The only times she's been charged anything beyond the deductible was twice, from the same chiropractor's office. It was BS, and we left the practice.

Right now, she's on a zero-premium drug plan and her pharmacy costs are minimal.

#12 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2026-03-26 02:38 PM

We need to reduce the cost, not just shift them to third and fourth party payers.

#10 | Posted by visitor_

Cutting out billion dollar payments to insurance CEOs reduces costs.

#13 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-03-26 02:45 PM

It will never pass, there is too much money in an entire layer of millionaires rubber stamping care denials that funnel money to Washington's pockets for Americans to something else.

That means 30% would have to take a lesser plan than they currently have.

So what you're saying is Medicare is equivalent or better than 70% of the plans out there.

We need to reduce the cost,

People love to say "we need to lower cost" because it sounds good, but it never happens because private insurance just pays the bill. So what's your plan to lower costs?

You think people have time to go shopping for the cheapest xray when they have a broken leg?

In most instances the costs are negotiated with the health insurance company anyways. Millionaires negotiating to set prices with other millionaires.

#14 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-03-26 02:47 PM

#12 My numbers are accurate. Lucky you that you and your wife are not on any expensive drugs.

#15 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-03-26 02:58 PM

"THAT's who'd suddenly turn against the idea, and join a coordinated effort among a whole bunch of wealthy interests: Insurance, Pharma, Hospitals, etc."

That would be me. I might be the only person here who has been subject to a government-operated healthcare system.

I don't remember it being that bad before COVID, but from spring of 2020 until I retired in August of 2023, the US military healthcare service was almost useless. Appointments for non-flyers were non-existent. You would just go to the ER at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Even for me as a flyer, appointments had to be made weeks in advance.

Then I retired, getting a private plan through Cigna Global. On the Tuesday after I retired, I called the general provider I had chosen. They asked if I could come in Thursday. I started laughing because it seemed so crazy.

I'm not against a government plan for those who want it, any more than I am against people who want to fly Spirit Air because it is cheap. But don't expect First Class service unless you're willing to pay first class prices. And that seems to be a big rub. That the quality and timeliness of the person buying the first-class ticket should be the same as that of the person buying the Spirit Air ticket.

#16 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-03-26 03:43 PM

BTW, Europe is chock full of different healthcare policies. It's not like the US has to start from scratch.

#17 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-03-26 03:45 PM

Medicare users ratings of their health care?

"Medicare beneficiaries generally report high satisfaction with their care, with 80-90% rating it positively.

Most (92%) over age 65 rate Medicare positively, while 79% of those under 65 with disabilities do. Ratings are based on 1-5 star systems for providers, hospitals, and plans, focusing on quality and patient experience."

#18 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-26 03:53 PM

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