including 55-65 year old folks into Medicare while in the same news day reprting that social security will begin paying out more than it takes in some where around 2015-2017? Insolvent 2030??

One would think the lawmakers would analyze all current programs....where they are today...what the actuarials would indicate...what the future cost and affordability....etc....etc....add them all up.....then see if they can afford anything more than on the plate TODAY!!!
OOppps I forgot we are talking politicians!!!!! What does affording anything have to do with their programs...sorry!

BTK

Both Social Security and Medicare are largely "fixable" with the passage of one simple law...

If you report income of more than X, you either don't get any benefits, or benefits are substantially reduced. ("Reduction of benefits" could be as simple as a sliding scale of required deductibles before you get any Medicare benefits, higher deductibles for those reporting higher income.)

Get ready for "means testing" folks. It's inevitable that it will be a part of almost any legislation Congress comes up with. With the distribution of income in recent years showing a growing number of people in both the richer and poorer segments of the population, it will be a logical element of any legislation. We already have some means testing in Social Security--if you make more than a certain amount, you get less or none. The new test may just be a bit tighter. The precedent to apply the same approach to Medicare is well-established.

Want to call it "redistribution of wealth" when they apply the same approach to Medicare as has been used with Social Security? The Congress will simply point out that it's just an expansion of a well-established and fair limitation on benefits that has been used for years. But means testing is going to be a part of whatever legislation comes down the road, whether the Congress is controlled by the Democrats or the Republicans.