Jeb! Bush wants to kill a healthy patient - Medicare

Recently, I heard one of my relatives express the Republican talking point that Medicare is going bankrupt. This idea has, of course, been embraced by all the Republican candidates for President, including Jeb! Bush.

"A lot of people recognize that we need to make sure we fulfill the commitment to people that have already received the benefits, that are receiving the benefits. But that we need to figure out a way to phase out this program for others and move to a new system that allows them to have something—because they’re not going to have anything."  Link

Remember that. Jeb! Bush wants to "phase out" Medicare. As in kill it over time.

So how's Medicare actually doing?

The Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund will have sufficient funds to cover its obligations until 2030, the same year that was projected last year, and 13 years later than was projected in the last report issued prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act. The projected portion of scheduled benefits that can be financed with dedicated revenues is 86 percent in 2030, declines slowly to 79 percent in 2039, and then gradually increases to 84 percent in 2089.  Link

In other words, it's doing great for the next 13 years, and doing slightly less than great for years after that, giving us plenty of time to get rid of all the Republicans in Congress and fix it with some increased revenue.

And the reason Medicare is doing well? Obamacare.

Thanks, Obama.