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Cali_Democrat

(30,439 posts) Mon Mar 12, 2012, 05:02 PM Mar 2012

Romney won't enroll in Medicare, a program he has promised to transform if he wins the White House.

How many seniors can afford Romney's private insurance plan?

By JENNIFER HABERKORN | 3/12/12 1:31 PM EDT

Gov. Mitt Romney, who turns 65 today, does not plan to enroll in Medicare, a program he has promised to transform if he wins the White House.

The former Massachusetts governor’s campaign confirmed to POLITICO Monday that Romney plans to remain on a private insurance plan and not enroll in Medicare, which provides health coverage to millions of Americans. The news was first reported by the website BuzzFeed.

The decision puts Romney in a tiny minority. A vast majority of seniors choose to participate in Medicare.

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Medicare is likely to be a significant issue in the presidential race, and Democrats could use Romney's decision to demonstrate that he is out of touch with the average American senior. They’re already preparing to hammer him over his promises to transform Medicare with a plan similar to the one proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73890.html

3 replies

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Romney won't enroll in Medicare, a program he has promised to transform if he wins the White House. (Original Post) Cali_Democrat Mar 2012 OP

I can see this turning around to bite him. He's so rich that he doesn't need it. Pirate Smile Mar 2012 #1

He doesn't have to worry about his healthcare does he? Cleita Mar 2012 #2

He's a former governor Aerows Mar 2012 #3

Pirate Smile

(27,617 posts)

1. I can see this turning around to bite him. He's so rich that he doesn't need it.

Reply to Cali_Democrat (Original post)

Mon Mar 12, 2012, 05:14 PM

Mar 2012

There is a very small percentage of people who would fall into that group.

He also doesn't have the need for this safety net as almost all other seniors do.

The medical expenses of people over 65 can be - even for a relatively health person - quite high. The idea that he can absorb that without blinking an eye puts him so far outside of the normal experience of Seniors that I can see this being used to, once again, emphasize how far removed his is from everybody else.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)

2. He doesn't have to worry about his healthcare does he?

Reply to Cali_Democrat (Original post)

Mon Mar 12, 2012, 05:26 PM

Mar 2012

However, if he comes down with heart problems like Dick Cheney, I wonder if he is rich enough to afford the same treatment without some insurance to back him up.

Aerows

(39,961 posts)

3. He's a former governor

Reply to Cleita (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 12, 2012, 05:38 PM

Mar 2012

Of course he's got backup insurance. It's part of compensation, if I'm not mistaken.

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