A new administration is poised to take over, with medical care a high priority. There’s been lots of talk, lots of trust put on big government. Unfortunately, the doctors, hospitals, insurers and others that opposed HillaryCare, way back when, now jockey to get whatever benefits they can out of whatever new system that develops . . . which, jumping the gun, they consider a “done deal.”
And yet the simplest, most sensible bit of legislation about health care garners almost no attention.
Introduced by Representative Sam Johnson several months ago, the Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act would allow seniors who go on Social Security to opt out of Medicare.
At present, when you retire with Social Security benefits, you are required — forced — to accept Medicare part A benefits. Doctors whom you hire for cash can be penalized.
Quite a system.
You might think anyone who’s for freedom of choice would support the bill.
You might think it uncontroversial, since it simply allows people who have saved money for their own medical care to continue to use that money.
It doesn’t affect anybody negatively. It doesn’t reduce Medicare taxes that anyone is forced to pay. It simply lets people who want to opt out of a bureaucratic system do just that.
And it would save the government money.
Oh, maybe now I get it. The name of the game is money, spending, and . . . regulation of our lives.
“Congress knows best.”
That is the very antithesis of Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.