Medicare Insurance

This column by Scott Burns analyzes the effect of the escalation of Medicare premiums.  It is a sobering article when you consider the potential for renewed inflation.

The Burns column does not address a larger question.  Why is it that Medicare as well as other medical insurance premiums consistently rise faster than inflation?  A large part of the answer is the tax code.  When we allow new benefits in any system, a fragmented tax code and unbalanced budgets encourage political expediency.  That is the reason that our Congress and President were able to pass a Medicare prescription benefit with little cost debate and no new taxes.

Political corruption of healthcare finance does not end there.  I have written a short piece linked here that addresses the general question of high inflation rates of health insurance.  Specifically, it discusses the effect of medical cost shifting to private health insurance buyers.  This practice, encouraged by health insurance companies, drug companies and federal agencies, is wrecking our healthcare finances.

The tax proposal in "The Rats are in the Cheese" is a major step in the solution to one of the thorniest policy issues of our time.

Comments

[Anderson Majors]

This was helpful to me when shopping for Medicare Supplement insurance.

http://www.lowcostmedigap.com