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Yeah, and the government never gives handouts do they?
The insurance companies administer the Advantage program, which costs money. Would you like private insurance to pull completely out?
Is Medicare a health insurance program for seniors or is it a handout to the private sector? If private insurance cannot compete in terms of cost with traditional Medicare, then yes they need to get out. Paying them 12% more only accelerates the future insolvency of the program.
Millions of seniors prefer the Advantage program over standard medicare.
Of course they do, because its a taxpayer handout. Who doesn't like free money? They would not prefer it if the private insurance companies billed them for the cost difference instead of just passing it on to other taxpayers.
We have a social contract with seniors. In exchange for them working and paying FICA taxes for 40 quarters (only 10 years), they are eligible for Medicare Part A and B once they retire even though most of them will receive far more in benefits than they ever paid in. Subsidizing coverage through the private sector at a 12% greater cost to the taxpayer is not part of that deal. If they want their coverage provided through the private sector, then fine, they need to pay the difference.
When my premiums go up every year (and a lot more than their medicare premiums at that), when medical coverage for my family is a significant burden for my family, why should I as a working taxpayer pay the 12% increase in costs to subsidize the additional costs for them to get insurance through the private sector?