Interactive: Government provides health insurance to growing number of Californians

Sacramento Bee ^ | 2/3/11 | Phillip Reese

[SmithL]

The U.S. House recently voted to repeal the president's health care plan. Much of the opposition over the plan has focused on a perceived government takeover of health insurance.

Roughly one-fourth of California's residents, though, already have public health insurance, primarily the poor (MediCal) and the elderly (Medicare) - a figure that is growing . . .

[Iron Munro]

Interactive: Government provides health insurance to growing number of Californians

Some of them are actually citizens.

[DrC]

This grossly understates government’s actual role in the health economy. Those on Medicare and Medicaid are among the most expensive populations to insure. Moreover, 30 percent of the cost of private employer-provided health plans ALSO is subsidized by taxpayers.

Add these all together and all levels of government account for more than half of all health spending. We’d be SO much better off if this figure were cut in half.

[oh8eleven]

primarily the poor (MediCal) and the elderly (Medicare) - a figure that is growing.
First of all, Medicare is not free. You pay for it your entire working life - then there's a monthly premium, deductibles, co-pays, etc.
I don't know what the requirements are for MediCal, but if the people on it are poor - who do you think pays for it?

[jimt]

Your points are well taken.

For the elderly, what they’re talking about is the MedicAID being a supplement to their Medicare, as they can’t afford the Medicare premiums.

[Always Independent]

MediCal is like welfare. And the taxpayer foots the bill. Its one thing if someone is temporarily in need. But out here in CA some find it to be a way of life. What really burns my a$$ is when I go into a grocery store and I see this poor women pay for groceries with foodstamps. Then they leave the store and put their bags into a late model mercedes or caddy.