Between now and 2030, American households will pay on average
$56,022 each for Medicare-$16,127 of that for a proposed
prescription drug entitlement alone.
That's why more young people
should pay attention to what lawmakers are doing with Medicare,
writes Heritage Foundation health-care .
"Our futures are being formed," Hunter says. "But are we paying
attention? Frankly, most lawmakers don't expect us to: We rarely
make plans for the weekend until Friday rolls around, so it's a
good bet we're not planning what will happen when we reach age
65-or how we'll obtain medical care when we get there."
Hunter says that if Congress has its way and adds prescription
drugs to Medicare without serious, market-based reforms, young
people will be burdened with essentially a massive tax liability
for their entire lives.
But Hunter doesn't say no to adding a prescription drug benefit
for some retirees. But, he says, lawmakers SHOULD target poor
seniors who need coverage rather than give it to everyone
regardless of how wealthy they may be. He concludes that his fellow
members of "Generation X" and other young people should follow what
lawmakers are doing to Medicare more closely to be more involved in
the debate. "We'd better start paying attention because, either
way, we will pay," he writes.
For more read:
Young Americans: Pay
Attention, Or Pay The Bills
by Derek Hunter
For more
information or to receive an e-mail version of "Medicare Maladies,"
contact medicaremaladies@heritage.org or call Heritage Media
Services at (202) 675-1761.
("Medicare Maladies" is a regular feature, launched 7/14/03, from
The Heritage Foundation. Sad to say, there's another malady coming
your way tomorrow. Daily "maladies" are also available on
heritage.org.)