It looks more and more that conservatives will get far more of what they want if the fiscal cliff happens, then if the Republicans compromise on anything.
In this case, for those people truly dependent on Medicare, they will quickly be shifted to Medicaid. However, for people of means, it means that they will have to pick up the tab for their own medical care.
Importantly, if people pay for their own medical care, the *price* of that medical care quickly drops by about 50% or more, which is currently consumed by the Medicare *system*.
Harsh, but important medicine, to get people to realize that Medicare is costing a LOT more than it is providing.
To qualify for Medicaid in Ohio you cannot have more than 1500 dollars to your name including all assets. If you have a car, much less a house, however humble, you can't have medicaid. By your reasoning, if you have a car worth two grand, you are a "person of means" who can "pick up the tab for your own health care."
Yeah, reality isn't what many people think it is.