- Jun 6, 2007
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It looks like the Democrats may be experiencing a change of heart on their campaign platform to give the Medicare program the power to negotiate drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry maybe the Big Pharma's lobbyists "laid down the law" to the big shots in the Democrat Party in Washington that if they moved on this issue they would have a whole big bunch of additional opponents in the next election cycles and these pharmaceutical industry opponents big checking accounts could prove very hurtful to Democrat prospects in 2022 and 2024. I hope the Democrats don't cave to the pressure the days need to end where the American people foot the bill for pharmaceutical research for the World, it needs to end where America pays significantly more for pharmaceuticals that other developed countries! Although I would not like to see the pharmaceutical industry get the shaft in this Medicare arrangement like many healthcare providers maybe put a floor on the pricing Medicare can seek on individual pharmaceutical prices maybe have the floor be the pharmaceutical company's cost for the drug plus a twenty-percent profit margin or maybe have the floor be what is the lowest price paid by developed countries that are our major competitors! I don't get those Democrat voices that are clamoring that the Federal government has to spend the money saved in Medicare allowing the system to negotiate drug prices why don't these Democrats try a probably novel idea for them how about not touching those savings so as sure up the system because today if nothing is done in Medicare in five years Medicare Part A the Hospital Insurance part will be insolvent that means in five years either seniors will have to pay more in premiums or workers will have to get a bigger deduction out of their paycheck to fill the financial hole in Medicare why not leave this new savings in the system so as to push out this date where these groups will have to pay more? The American people hear a lot of rhetoric amongst Democrats about lowering the age of Medicare but the American people don't hear much mention of the conditions under this would be done to limit the burdens these changes would cause and that is critical!. If this idea is pursued it should not weaken the finances for seniors currently and in the future eligible and enrolled in the system, The newly eligible Americans and the Federal government should pick up this tab; meaning in part, the newly eligible should be paying a higher premium or whatever the fee on Medicare seniors is called and the Federal government should try to make the cost on these newly eligible commensurate with what that these Americans would pay if they were still in the ACA individual insurance exchanges; further because Uncle Sam is going to pay the shortfall between the newly eligible costs and the projected costs pursuant to an actuarial analysis eligibility for the expansion of the Medicare program should be income based like only those with a household income under 150K would be eligible, in addition the Federal government should proceed carefully with this program the country doesn't need more major financial bleeding befalling it so it would probably be prudent to initially lower the age to 62 and see the financial ramifications of that policy change for five years! Democrats seem poised to dramatically increase funding for Community Colleges across the nation so as to provide free education for those people attending these institutions of higher learning, generally speaking that is a great move it will make a difference in reducing young Americans that graduate from college from having crushing student debt levels, some people that have advocated for this basic idea have suggested that it be done in a manner where the student still has to pay like $350 or $400 per semester the rationale being if something is free people don't' appreciate it as much if they have to pay for it and making the tuition this low in most cases is readily affordable and if these students appreciate the educational opportunity more they will take better advantage of the opportunity and thus get a better education which would help the country's economy be stronger because eventually these students get out into the work force and hold jobs in the nation's economy!
