I agree that opening Medicare is a good step for the future expansion, but commentators, reporters, and politicians seem to either be totally ignorant and thoughtless of what the consumer would have to PAY to enroll or are deliberately not going there because it would further impede the passage of “something”. 

With what information I’ve located on WaPo I gather that Part A and Part B would probably cost me (without government supplements) about $633.  I don’t think that includes the supplemental insurance I would need to buy to cover the 20% out of pocket.  That would probably cost me another $130 to $150.  I’m 60.  Now it has become apparent that media and politicians have an entirely different idea of what “affordable” means, but on a fixed income of around $38,000 a year, IRA’s severely depleated, I don’t find the prospect of paying $760 + a “gift”.  With so few people discussing the numbers, I’m beginning to believe that legislation is being written only for those with ample money who cannot buy coverage because of a pre-existing condition.  I’ve had BLBS for 12 years now because of a state mandated high risk pool.  I currently pay $600 a mo. for $7500 deductible.  All my money goes to pay the premium.  I severely ration my health care as I have to pay for nearly all care out of pocket.  So that’s what you get with “availability”.  There is absolutely NO merit in “availability” without “affordability” and Congress has a completely skewed idea of what “affordability” means