Politfact points out that those who "paid into" medicare, really paid between 13% to 14% of what they get out of it. The rest is paid for by younger workers who will never benefit from it. The same holds for Social Security. From the SSA, Ratio of Covered Workers to Beneficiaries, In 1940, the ratio was 159.4 working to 1 person receiving benefits. In 2013, it was 2.8 to 1. Human nature being what it is, both of them will have to go broke first, before anyone comes up with a solution.
According to the US governments Budget/Accounting numbers, in 2015 the Federal government spent 1.14 trillion for healthcare, excluding the VA. Healthcare spending at the Federal level has been growing at an average annual rate of between 8-9%. for at least the last 25 years. Medicare/Medicaid will break the Federal budget within the next 6-7 years given it’s present trajectory. EVERY so-called healthcare plan presented has been nothing more than a payment plan with NOTHING about controlling healthcare costs. Even with the supposed cost controls within Medicare/Medicaid those programs are increasing in cost every year. Unless true market principles are injected within the medical industry, the cost of healthcare will continue to increase. If it goes towards ‘socialized medicine’ then expect limitations on what you will receive.....more so than what is experienced now.