I Tammy Trottot am proposing a new plan for Seniors and Disabled Persons.
We already have Medicare that is a sorely lacking program for disabled and elderly. The plans barely cover the minimum amount of medical. That leaves a huge void in vision, dental, and other valuable services that disabled and seniors would benefit from.
Since most seniors are on extra help with co-pay for the plan costs from the state we should seek to dissolve Medicare and create a Seniors and Disabled Medicade Program. This program could encompass all the lacking benefits we need as we get older . We already pay a Medicare tax . Those tax dollars can be refocused into the Medicade program.
It would be totally self supporting useing the already existing tax dollars rerouted into the new state run program.
The State would manage the site for only Seniors and Disabled. The tax money originally sent to the Federal Government would be transferred to the state in which the person residence. We would get a all inclusive plan where we would be able to get the services we need.
Food stamps are regulated in the IDD (intellectually disabled) adult population based on the level- but not even severe IDD adults in the program I work with receive the full amount- and as they age their ability goes down. The max one of my residents in supported living receives is 88.00 a month to feed themselves. They have to use most of their limited income on food- they each receive 500$ SSI each month- which would be okay if they had food stamps - many of them receive 35.00 or less a month for food stamps. No one can live that way.
Tammy, I really appreciate your passion for improving care for seniors and the disabled. You’ve highlighted a major gap in Medicare coverage, especially for vision, dental, and hearing services . Instead of dissolving Medicare, what if we expanded it to include these missing services? This way, we could leverage the existing program but make it more comprehensive.
Another idea could be a hybrid model, where the federal government provides baseline coverage, and states have the flexibility to enhance benefits using redirected funds. A Medicare buy-in option might also be worth considering, allowing people to choose a more inclusive plan funded by their Medicare taxes and a small premium.
Finally, focusing on preventive and holistic care, like mental health services and nutrition counseling, could help address root causes and improve long-term outcomes. Your proposal opens the door for a much-needed conversation about how we can make these changes happen while ensuring consistent, high-quality care for everyone. What do you think about a combined approach like this?
The problem with a hybrid option is that most states already offer this program via medicare advantage/ ppo coverage. The problem again is affordability of the services offered. We are still not able to afford it.
The service is offered at a discount that is still largely unaffordable to most on SSD,SSDI,SSI. We don’t have a pension to offset the cost. It puts us right back in the same position we are in now.
These PPO/Medicare advantage programs while good in theory never pan out or are so expensive to use they are often not used. We spend millions of dollars on a welfare system where a low income person can get all the allowance they need to live. Seniors and disabled people live on one of the smallest income levels in America. Yet we are the ones widely ignored.
I get $980 a month. I am denied dental, vision, food and utilities benefits. Now a worker who makes $2000+ gets at least the medical benefits.
The break down is so archaic that we already have a medical benefit so we don’t qualify for their benefits. What they don’t look at is that I even after the bill is paid by medicare am chased for up to 20% of the cost of any procedure. Can you please tell me where I will get the money for the 20%? Now you throw this advantage plan or more into Medicare that is already chasing us for up to 20% and want to add dental, vision and hearing. Where am I getting it from.
Many presidents prior have floated the idea of expanding medicare and every time that idea is scrapped. We have been through this proposal time and again and time and again left behind in the process.
We already have medicade paying only copayments for the insurance because if not my check goes from $980 to $676 . But thats all they pay not a penny more. We take that copayments money + the medicare tax and build a midcade for Seniors and disabled that wont be left behind when they need to choose what ones to scrap.
. Instead of dissolving Medicare, what if we expanded it to include these missing services? This way, we could leverage the existing program but make it more comprehensive.