tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900303239154048192.post458814674302738791..comments2024-03-06T06:34:42.881-05:00Comments on EconoSpeak: Health Care: Public Competition or Price Controls?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900303239154048192.post-38550889642142130182010-02-23T01:53:42.124-05:002010-02-23T01:53:42.124-05:00What seems to have gone unnoticed in the latest &q...What seems to have gone unnoticed in the latest "compromise" is the prospect of applying the Medicare tax to income other than wages. Of all the ideas I have seen concerning the method for funding the low income subsidies this is the best. Unlike Social Security, Medicare benefits are NOT tied to wage income and contribution to the trust fund. All Medicare benefits are the same for all beneficiaries. Medicare wage taxes have never made any sense at all.<br /><br />If this were expanded, the Medicare trust fund would be taken off budget, the Medicare tax made progressive, and the entire system made self sufficient. Providing a very clear wall between social insurance systems and the rest of government is extremely important. It keeps the lies down.TheTruckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346127768102862741noreply@blogger.com