[Sacajaweau]

Everytime the Federal Government tries this stuff...The burden eventually goes to the State or to folks carrying private insurance...while the Fed is still collecting the money.

Medicare is a good example. I'm now on Medicare. Little did I know years ago that even though they have accumulated my "pool money", I would still be paying premiums to the Feds out of my SS check......AND buying additional insurance.

[Jim from C-Town]

It would be unrealistic to expect not to pay a premium for your health care coverage. The attitude that you have already paid for my medicare & SS is one of the biggest problems with the system. I hate the lie that Medicare and SS are prepaid by the receiver. They are a wealth transfer program from the young to the old.

Medicare is one of the only 80/20 traditional health care systems in the country today. You pay for the supplement in order to avoid loss from the additional 20% cost.

A good alternative for you may be a Medicare + program. This program is actually administer red by an Insurance co. and is most similar to a PPO. You still pay your Medicare premium out of your SS, however you have achoice to pay as little as $0 for the Medicare +. This program has a co-pay for Dr. visits and a deductible for procedures, but it features an out of pocket cap that is usually much less than the cost of Medicare Supplement (Medi-gap) insurance premiums alone.

You should call your health/Life insurance agent and see if this is a good alternative for you. It could save you a lot of money.