Comment on "Medicare financing reform: a new Medicare premium".
Concern for equity of financing among the elderly must not ignore questions of equity between the needs of Medicare beneficiaries and those of the nonelderly . Modest income-related cost-sharing, combined with the merger advocated, might improve fairness , efficiency, and coverage. But fundamental reform must involve new tax policies.
D002017:Budgets; D003669:Deductibles and Coinsurance; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000379:methods*; D006291:Health Policy; D007182:Income; D007350:Insurance, Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D007357:Insurance, Physician Services / Q000191:economics; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics*; D013660:Taxes; D014481:United States