EDITORIAL: Ryan’s ‘Better Way’ on Medicare would not be pain-free
With
To his credit, Ryan has been blunt about this instead of pandering to the powerful senior-citizens lobby and saying reductions could be found elsewhere. But his solution could be hard medicine -- for some. He wants to "gradually raise" the
In addition, Ryan wants to move
Those sums would likely vary by region. The amount would likely cover most or all of the cost of a modest private-health plan -- at least at the beginning. The question is whether these sums would keep up with rising health care costs, which tend to increase faster than economic growth. This is the key detail that must be weighed with care as debate unfolds. Otherwise, Ryan's reform could shift too much of the health care cost burden onto seniors' shoulders. There are proposals to keep the traditional
As mentioned, there are generational questions that need an airing. Ryan's plan isn't one of shared sacrifice. Baby boomers generally get a pass, but Generation Xers and millennials would be guinea pigs. These Americans are already pinched by student-loan debt, rising medical costs and shrinking employer retirement contributions. If Ryan truly has a "
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