I can't believe I am typing this, but I got information from the Washington Post which I couldn't find on Talking Points Memo. The issue is the new Ryan plan for Medicare. I know that Ryan still wrote about people getting vouchers whose value would grow much slower than medical costs. I also know that the new plan has a public option to stay on Medicare. So far, it sounds like Medicare advantage all over again, that is, no threat to Medicare as we know it and with no budgetary savings. But then I read this by Rosalind S. Helderman and Lori Montgomery.

"In reaction to Democratic criticism that the plan “ends Medicare,” Ryan has tweaked that proposal: He now aims to preserve traditional Medicare as an option, though seniors could be required to pay significantly more for Medicare coverage if the program proved to be more expensive than the private plans."

Ahhh that's it. It is a plan to phase out Medicare as we know. Update: booboo here (Medicare premiums would grow at the difference between the cost of health care and the consumer price
index.) Medicare would cease to be a program which pays for healthcare and become a mere public option (which would clean the floor with private insurance because it is more
effiicient). Many people over 65 would be unable to pay the premiums and

lose health insurance.

The limit is total Medicare spending grows at GDP + 0.5%. this is way low as the populstion ages. Obamacare achieves low Medicare growth by reducing cross subsidation of care for the uninsured with Medicare. Ryancare won't do that.

Calling Senator Wyden on the white discourtesy phone. Why why why did you trust Ryan enough to let him link your name with his. Also calling Alice Rivlin.

And I thank Rosalind S. Helderman and Lori Montgomery one of whom I have criticized with some vigor on this blog.