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Medicare was established because insurance companies were not interested in insuring old people–they have too many medical expenses.
If it’s broken, fix it–my dad was in the hospital for six days last week with a staph infection, and every day (sometimes twice a day), various doctors who had nothing to do with his treatment would come into his room with his chart and say hello, take a look at his infected finger, and then leave and no doubt bill Medicare. Sure there is plenty of waste. Sure doctors who actually treat senior citizens hate Medicare because it pays all providers, whether or not they actually treat seniors, at bargain-basement rates. But that is fixable. The answer is NOT to turn it over to the private sector!
I was paying nearly $1200 per month before I got medicare & medicare is tons better than the coverage I had. I do pay a plan fee but it’s minimal.
In addition to BSM’s piece, Cobble’s hosting a garden fete at Carroll Gardens Park Saturday – don’t know why Mr. B. didn’t put it up but everyone should go.
My accountant laughed at me when I asked if I can deduct my medical expenses a few years ago—they’re so minimal. But I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask…
Half can be deducted on the first page of the 1040, like an IRA contribution. The other half can be deducted if you itemize medical deductions. This year you could only deduct medical expenses that exceeded 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. Next year that threshold is increasing to 10 percent.
I dunno, I was able to deduct some (half?) when I was “freelancing”, but I’ve had BH’s insurance since I’ve been unemployed. The COBRA was from a previous job, after that I was a contract worker without benefits. It’s complicated.
Medicare was established because insurance companies were not interested in insuring old people–they have too many medical expenses.
If it’s broken, fix it–my dad was in the hospital for six days last week with a staph infection, and every day (sometimes twice a day), various doctors who had nothing to do with his treatment would come into his room with his chart and say hello, take a look at his infected finger, and then leave and no doubt bill Medicare. Sure there is plenty of waste. Sure doctors who actually treat senior citizens hate Medicare because it pays all providers, whether or not they actually treat seniors, at bargain-basement rates. But that is fixable. The answer is NOT to turn it over to the private sector!
“medicare is tons better than the coverage I had”
I suppose that if I took out a large loan and passed it off to my daughter and grandchildren, my coverage would be a hell of alot better too.
That, in effect, is what Medicare is all about.
I was paying nearly $1200 per month before I got medicare & medicare is tons better than the coverage I had. I do pay a plan fee but it’s minimal.
In addition to BSM’s piece, Cobble’s hosting a garden fete at Carroll Gardens Park Saturday – don’t know why Mr. B. didn’t put it up but everyone should go.
I did read that, rf, and found a few new smart tips!
Be sure to read BSM’s article in Bed Stuy Patch:
bed-stuy.patch.com/articles/how-to-start-and-maintain-your-own-window-box
My accountant laughed at me when I asked if I can deduct my medical expenses a few years ago—they’re so minimal. But I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask…
I’m getting my plants for the deck this weekend, I’m very excited!
Half can be deducted on the first page of the 1040, like an IRA contribution. The other half can be deducted if you itemize medical deductions. This year you could only deduct medical expenses that exceeded 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. Next year that threshold is increasing to 10 percent.
I dunno, I was able to deduct some (half?) when I was “freelancing”, but I’ve had BH’s insurance since I’ve been unemployed. The COBRA was from a previous job, after that I was a contract worker without benefits. It’s complicated.