In case anyone in America didn't know, Mitt Romney is rich. So rich, in fact, that yesterday on his 65th birthday, he announced that he's not planning to sign up for Medicare.
I'm not sure what Romney's trying to prove, but what his action says is clear: I'm not like the Americans who enroll in Medicare. I'm special. I'm rich. I'm better than you.
Ask yourself: If Romney doesn't need or want Medicare for himself, will he protect it for the rest of us who do? Of course not. Instead, he'll continue to support the Republican plan to eliminate Medicare as we know it. He'll work to turn Medicare into a voucher program that will saddle seniors with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket health care costs. Because, after all, what senior can't afford to spend an extra $6,400 a year on doctors and hospitals?
Romney's support for eliminating Medicare as we know it is serious. Along with Medicaid and Social Security, Medicare is the foundation of economic security for America's seniors and families. It allows middle-class people to retire with dignity and the knowledge that they will have health care when they need it. Medicare is part of ensuring that everyone gets to share in America's prosperity.
Before Medicare, seniors were left at the mercy of the private market and therefore virtually uninsurable. Without insurance, even brief hospital stays could impoverish them. The result was that the elderly went without the care they needed -- unless their families were rich. Most seniors were one illness away from bankruptcy.
The concern that Mitt Romney is out-of-touch is a real one, not just because he's insulated from the day-to-day financial struggles that 99% of America's families have to deal with. The problem is that he self-selects into the 1% every chance he gets.
 |
 |
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| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
| Romney | Santorum | Gingrich | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegates | 1.47 Thousand | 254 | 138 | |
| Fundraising | $76 M | $16 M | $21 M | |
| Intrade | $9.61 | $0.06 | $0.01 | |
| 570 K | 200 K | 1.5 M |
Anyway, I don't think it's very easy to find private health insurance if you are eligible for Medicare. Perhaps Romney is planning on being self-insured?
This is my second attempt to comment... my first attempt was summarily rejected.
Some members of Congress already tried to get around this. Anyway, try to find private health insurance for someone eligible for Medicare... I don't think it's very easy, even for someone with lots of money. Perhaps MR is planning on being self-insured?
"I'm not sure what Romney's trying to prove, but what his action says is clear: I'm not like the Americans who enroll in Medicare. I'm special. I'm rich. I'm better than you."
If Romney has piled up enough money that he doesn't need to sign up, why on Earth would you want him to sign up? That much more money for those that haven't. Saying something that stupid just undercuts the rest of Rome's argument.
1. Did he not sign up for Medicare Part A because he never paid any Social Security taxes? If that is the case, he would have to pay full price -- $450 a month -- for really bad insurance. If so, turning it down makes financial sense (but still terrible political judgement).
2. Did he pay 10 years of SS? If so, Part A is "free?" Why not sign up? ("Free" is in quotes because you have to pay tens of thousands of dollars over your working life.)
3. "Full retirement age" now is 66 or more. Many of us do not take Part B until we retire because we still get ESI (but it's still a smart idea to sign up for "free" A as soon as eligible)
4. But I've never read that he's still employed. So whose providing his private insurance?
5. The one thing I don't think he can be doing is buying it as an individual. We have a law here in Massachusetts called, unfairly, RomneyCare. I think it says that you can't buy individual private insurance in Massachusetts over 65 except for policies called Medigap policies. And you can't buy Medigap if you don't have Medicare.
And you have to have insurance in Massachusetts
If the wealthy can afford not to take Medicare, why should they use the precious dollars needed by the likes of you and I.
I think it shows he does value Medicare. This is a considerate act not one against Medicare. If he does apply later, well, that blows the article anyway.
Right now the Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot with their war on birth control, but the Ryan budget that every Republican voted for is a powerful issue and I cannot wait for those television ads to start running.
Actually, please do, all the way through November.
It should be means tested.........available to those who need it. The fact that most rich people are taking it too is not an attractive aspect to Medicare.
we have to save-up so she can see the Dr.
Let's start with his support for the Ryan plan to END Medicare to finance even more gargantuan tax cuts for billionaires and corporations already sitting on oceans of cash.