Medicare increase could mean no SS COLA for 2012
 

Just read this at Yahoo News. Looks like there will be a raise for the first time since 2009 but because of rising Medicare costs,there will be little leftover for a COLA. Another thread says that SSDI will be running out of money shorty,which is a bunch of nonsense. Why would there even be talk of a COLA if there is no money in the pot???

I expected a COLA in 2012 because it is an election year....

COLA was written into the law. The COLA is not like a dividend, paid out when the "pot" has extra money: it is indexed to the consumer price index and cost of living index.

And I personally think that Medicare premiums should be indexed to the level of your SS payment. I am not sure how that would work, but it would at least be proportionate to what you receive in SS benefits.

That's ridiculous! I completely disagree. You should not have to pay more for Medicare just because your SSDI benefit pays you more. The kind of money you made when you worked should have nothing to do with what you should pay for the same benefit as people who made less when they worked.

Whats going to happen in 2014 when everyone is suppose to have health coverage and people on SSDI decide that Medicares monthly payments are too costly,will the government pick up the tab or will they force you to take it by still deducting payments out of your monthly SSDI payments. Fun times ahead.

So why would someone who has been content with Medicare insurance suddenly decide they are paying too much and try for something else? I am on medicare and have been since 92 due to disablity. I have to stop getting treatment for over ayear tho was getting sicker till I found a program that allowed me to get medicaid if I was able to find some work even a little. Now the medicaid pays what medicare doesnt and I can see doctors and get tests without the copays I couldnt afford. YET in calls last week I tried to differnt docs and said I had both to which I was immediatly to told no doc doenst take medicaid. I quietly said but you get more than than just medicare. The first on coldly said still no the second surprised by this said she would ask but has never called back which her version of no. In the meantime my insides are sick as heck and need someone with for a pcp and cant find one who take what I have.

Annie59

Like I said, I don't know how it would work, but it might be a way to lessen the burden on those getting very small SS checks. Just sayin' . . .