Tim, count me as one of the ones who would not, under any circumstances, trade in my good insurance for a Medicare policy. You've GOT to be joking, you seriously think most people would happily trade in their coverage for that crappy Medicare if they had a CHOICE? You are seriously demented. I have two siblings who are dependant on medicare/medicaid, and I know what a lousy job that does of covering their basic needs - like limited perscriptions. Hey, if you need more than 2 perscriptions for chronic conditions, you are SOL on the medicare/medicaid plan.

Now, let ME ask a question: If Ted Kennedy gets his way and extends medicare coverage to EVERYONE in America, how many businesses would drop health care coverage all together? Yeah, I see alot of hands go up. Now, under this scenario, how many insurance companies would still offer health care policies, and how much would THOSE policies cost? I'm thinking very few companies would want to compete against something free, and the ones that continue to would "cater to the rich," so us middle-class employees would once again get the shaft from those wonderful liberals that are "so concerned about my welfare." So please, Ted and Tim, don't do me any favors.

I did as my insurance company had me sign up on medicare when I became 65 and I had no other option.

But they do pay the co-pay for me but I pay the fee for living.

For you, sir, i would advise a stool softener and a mild laxative. That would take care of the fecal overload that taxes your reason and clots up your prose. do you by any chance work for an insurance company? Why, what a surprise. First you say that midicare doesn't cover nearly enough, and THEN you say that a universal expansion of medicare would drive the private insurers out of the bloodsucking market. But if medicare is that inadequate to the task of insuring health care, wouldn't that leave ample opportunity for the free market to redress its failures? Before you sneer at Ted and Tim, learn to construct a simple argument that passes the giggle test.