CMA Health Policy Blog

Medicare Facts & Fiction: 3 Quick Lessons to Combat Medicare Spin

August 9, 2011 at 9:01 pm Judith Stein Leave a comment

Congress continues to propose Medicare changes that will have severe repercussions for beneficiaries and their families. Policymakers and pundits are feeding the media and the public misinformation about Medicare. The truth is, most people with Medicare are low-income and most pay more for health care than other insured Americans.  Nonetheless, Medicare Works. For 46 years it has opened doors to necessary care  for millions of older people,  people with disabilities, and their families.

Did you know?

1. The average income of Medicare beneficiaries is less than $22,000 per year.
2. Medicare beneficiaries already pay more out-of-pocket for health care than people with other health insurance.
3. Higher income people with Medicare already pay higher premiums for Medicare than other Medicare beneficiaries.

What’s Fair?  Should we tax Millionaires or grandparents?    Millionaires.

Entry filed under: Deficit Reduction, Fiscal Responsibility, Medicare, Medicare Reform, Public vs. Private Health Coverage, Vouchers. Tags: Deficit; Medicare, Fact and Fiction, Medicare.