Can't Work? No Healthcare

It's time that the United States - and the MAGA party in particular - own its policy that if you don't work, you don't deserve healthcare. I was listening to NPR (I know, I know...) and there was a story about the ACA premiums exploding with the expiration of subsidies. They interviewed a doddering retiree (on Medicare, naturally) and it really should be quoted in full here:

QUIRMBACH: Here, extending help for ACA enrollees does not have a lot of support. Stepping away from the game, Rita Schulte, a retiree who's on Medicare, the federal health program that covers most seniors, says the Obamacare enhanced subsidies should only be extended a short time, if at all. Schulte says for people who aren't retired like her, she wants bigger changes in the Affordable Care Act that lower costs for taxpayers.

RITA SCHULTE: If they'd ever get it overhauled, maybe we wouldn't need all this extra help from the government because you can't rely on the government to support you, I guess.

No doubt this lady believes government should stay out of her Medicare.

But you know what? It's a modest proposal whose time has come: If you are an adult and aren't working - no government healthcare or insurance for you. And this means EVERYONE. No exceptions because you're 70. 

Because I am a benevolent dictator and not a monster, I will extend subsidized coverage to those 65-75, just a little shy of the US average life expectancy of 78. After that, you're on your own, geezers! Bootstraps baby! You can still pay for health care, but out of pocket either with cash up front or via private insurance. Pre-existing conditions? Sorry - not our problem. Hope you didn't have a lapse in coverage! EMTALA? Repealed for those over 75 so don't even worry about the costs of emergency care for those gaffers. 

This will help with our population pyramid being top heavy as the elderly die off sooner. Plus, we won't have to pay Social Security benefits OR Medicare on dead people. Win-win! And we know how this country LOVES winning. 

 

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