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Where I stand on...

Medicare, along with the Social Security System, also needs to be fixed. Linking the two systems into one benefit system would solve many of the problems with each one.

I believe individuals should no longer be forced into the Medicare system upon their 62nd birthday. Instead, benefits should begin at the same time they apply for Social Security benefits. The longer they wait to start drawing benefits, they would greatly increase their Social Security income and reduce their out of pocket expenses for Medicare.

The Medicare system should be divided into three categories:

Class A: Preventive and emergency health care services along with prescription medications. No annual Medicare fees.

Class B: Includes class “A” services plus specialized medical care. An annual Medicare fee would be assessed at 5 percent of the Social Security benefits, capped at the 5 percent amount of age 67 benefits. ($43.35 monthly)

Class C: Includes class “A” and “B” services plus catastrophic services or life saving medical care. An annual Medicare fee would be assessed at 10 percent of the Social Security benefits, capped at the 10 percent amount of age 67 benefits. ($86.70 monthly)

All individuals would be automatically enrolled into Class “A” unless otherwise requested by the individual requesting benefits. If an individual signs up for class “A” benefits but later would like to change to “B” or “C”, they must first change their enrollment and must wait a one year for the new benefit to take effect. The date would be one year from the request date, not the date that the government actually processes the enrollment.

Individual’s having illnesses related to obesity will have to show improvement in their weight and life styles in order to continue receiving full benefits.

Co-pays would be adjusted by the age and years as a US citizen at the time of enrollment. Additional co-pay coverage can be requested at 5 percent increments for a small fee.

Below is a chart of the percentage of medical costs that Medicare would pick up based upon the age an individual enrolls:
Years
as U.S.
Citizen
Age
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
20
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
19
0%
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
75%
85%
95%
18
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
17
0%
0%
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
75%
85%
16
0%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
15
0%
0%
0%
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
75%
14
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
13
0%
0%
0%
0%
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
12
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
11
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
10
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
9
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
8
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
7
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
5%
15%
25%
35%
6
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
5
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
5%
15%
25%
4
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
20%
3
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
5%
15%
2
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10%
1
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
5%
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

Based on this chart, Medicare would pick-up 100 percent of medical cost if you wait until age 72 to enroll into the system but would only pick up 50 percent at age 67. As mentioned before, a fee would be assessed for additional 5 percent increment coverage’s of $24.00 per unit annually or $2.00 a month. Those that chose to collect benefits at age 62 but would like 100 percent Medicare coverage would then have to pay $488.00 a year for that coverage.