Medicare is correct. Medicaid is correct. Universal health care is more correct

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Yes. There is no reason to say younger folks don't need assitance, other than, we assume young folks just stay healthy until they magically turn one day at 65. I'm not in the business analytics/financial side of healthcare to speak to what economic advantages Medicare has (if any) over universal healthcare, but I'd sure rather universal for all my fellow humans.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

The US is a gerontocracy. It's an insane political culture that bends over backward for the elderly while selling out its children.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Medicaid also exists, which is a government program for lower income people under 65

by Anonymous 1 year ago

But it's limited (outside of the age range) to those who are disabled or at end stage diseases.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No, it's more tied to income than any other factor.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

> and from a moral and ethical standpoint, No. No it's not.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

OP, who is statistically more likely to get sick or hurt? A young adult or teenager, or an elderly man/woman?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Does that really matter though? Should people be denied help simple because they are "statistically less likely to get hurt"? It doesnt matter who is more likely because everyone can get hurt and need help. No one is arguing older people shouldnt have it or have less.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Look, in a perfect world, the US would have universal healthcare. Until we do, and while we have to suffer with insurance-based healthcare, there is medicare if you are elderly and most likely retired, there is medicaid if you are on low-income, and then there is the health insurance provided to you by your job. There is other options other than medicare, medicare is specifically for a group of people. That is not discriminatory, and it isn't unfair because most young adults will eventually get a job that offers health insurance, and teenagers will be on whatever plan their parents are on.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It isn't unfair except for all the ways it is... got it.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Very wide variety of factors. With my current conditions, I could very well be less healthy than a fit older person. But you would like to disregard my healthcare because I'm not the 'statistical average.'

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I will ask again. OP, who do you think is *statistically,* I will say that again, **statistically** more likely to get sick or hurt, your average young adult or teenager, or your average elderly man/woman? We are not talking about anecdotes or specific examples, we are talking about statistical averages, medians, and data.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Statisically, how many health problems of the elderly are caused by their poor health choices/lack of healthcare in their youth? Lifelong smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, chronic pain, lack of cancer screening, lack of preventative care...these problems (and more) existed, statistically, when they were younger.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Did you simply miss the "average" part of my question? Would you agree that your average 19 year old will have less severe health problems than your average 91 year old? Determining who is more likely to need medical attention is not discriminatory. Otherwise any example of triage will be labeled as discriminatory.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Statistically speaking, you'll soon run into a P based problem, especially when you're dealing with medical issues. Everyone has different medical needs at different stages in their lives. If a 19-year-old goes into the hospital and dies from hypoglycemia in the ER; it's a tragedy that everyone knows could happen and be prevented. If a 91-year-old goes into the hospital... it's a tragedy that might not have been prevented. It's our duty to give each other the best opportunities available, not just configure an unnecessary calculus for our human health (Ethics: Utilitarianism v Deontology)

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Idk if you had a 19yo who needed a 1million a year medical care would it be better for society to provide that but cut care for everyone else. Government Healthcare as sole provider would be making those decisions. Do I like private company making those decisions ? No But I can always chose a different company.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Of course you COULD be. But I'm planning insurance programs for the masses, there is no choice but to use statistics and actuarial tables.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

From a moral and ethical standpoint, you are completely misguided. Don't forget that seniors, when they worked, paid into Medicare through their taxes. Seniors (and the disabled, the other population on Medicare) are also far more likely to be on fixed incomes PLUS require more medications and medical treatment than middle aged adults, who should be at their peak earning ability with access to insurance and young adults (who often have insurance opportunities through their employer or parents til age 26) but are typically very healthy. So going by the social contract, we owe seniors Medicare in order to adequately compensate them for their taxes and adequately care for them. It's not even a question.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Well Americans should at least put infants and toddlers on Medicare (not Medicaid). It's pretty demonstrative of our moral compass when a 1-year-old losses their health insurance due to their parents working part-time hours.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

They do. You as a parent can have your child under Medicare.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You do know it's intended for people who are close to retirement or retired right? They don't have the same level of income anymore so Medicare makes up for some of that lost coverage from retirement. Without Medicare, you'd have a lot more retired people unable to afford their medical expenses and foregoing treatment.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You seem to forget or, rather, are unaware that Medicare is in place to assist the disabled. Elderly people fall under this category at 65 because that is the time usually where they aren't useful to the workforce anymore. It's a system that we all pay into knowing that we will get it back if we reach that age. You should really do more research because you're also unaware of just how little Medicare covers. No eye insurance, no dental, etc..it's nothing compared to the finances that elderly and disabled people truly need. If you want to discuss something being "unfair", Medicaid serves more single mothers and children than young adults particularly, able bodied men. So while most single, young and childless men and women struggle to even afford rent, single parents (usually the mothers) are able to come to the dentist on a $5 copay per visit..now that's unfair. Our healthcare system benefits, single mothers and fathers who don't work with multiple kids.

by Anonymous 1 year ago