While Washington is still hammering out the details to potentially expand Medicare coverage to individuals as young as 55, it is important to explain why I feel this is not a good idea.
So here is my “Top 3 reasons not to expand Medicare coverage” list for you.
1. The Medicare population will become larger and sicker
The individuals who would “buy in” to the Medicare benefit plan will likely have pre-existing conditions and will be patients who cannot obtain regular private insurance on their own. This will cause tremendous financial implications for hospitals and for people paying for private insurance.
2. Medicare reimbursement will suffer
Medicare reimbursement rates differ from state to state and from hospital to hospital. It is a complex payment model that typically does not pay hospitals and doctors a fair reimbursement rate for services rendered. Because of this, hospitals and doctors have to charge patients with private insurance more to make up the costs. This situation will only get worse if access to Medicare coverage is opened up to people ages 55 to 64.
3. The plan fails to save Americans money
The entire point of this debate in Washington has been to bend the cost curve down when it comes to healthcare. Expanding Medicare coverage and allowing more people to access a poorly run and poorly administered plan will make healthcare costs worse.
To put it simply, expanding Medicare coverage does not accomplish the goal!
Join the conversation and post your comments below.
Ed Howe blogs regularly at Action for Better Healthcare.