[QUOTE] We pay 200 plus dollars per month for each of our medicare polices. ~ Giordano
Giordano, if you are paying a premium each month, then isn't the coverage you have a Medicare alternative policy with a private insurance company? Here, we have such coverage with names as: "Coventry" "Essence", etc. In these cases, private insurance companies (United Health Care, Blue Cross, etc) have contracted with the Government's Medicare office to cover the insured person and the Gov't pays a monthly fee to the insurance company that is equal to the "average cost" the Gov't typically pays for a Male/Female of your age.
MANY US Citizens who are 65 of older (or qualify due to disability) opt out of the Government Medicare coverage for such alternative policies thru private insurance providers. Once again, private business has shown they can make a profit at the same "premium" they receive from the Gov't.
The Government is ineffective and more expensive at damn near anything they do.