Aside from all the "purely economic" values of keeping Medicare as is, or transforming it, one issue does not get any play:  Right now, there are no health care plans for the 65+ members of the community--they are all "Medicare".  What is going to happen when 70+ and 80+ year olds are having to find insurance plans?  Does anyone have any idea within a factor of 10 as to the costs?   And another thing, most parishes have people in the last stages of their lives; they are not suffering from Alzheimers or another form of dementia; but they are the "old old" in their late 70s and the 80s and beyond.  Many are physically frail, but with support, can remain at home, thanks to Meals on Wheels and houskeeping help, etc.   In regards to financial record keeping and medical needs for budgeting, many of these people are helped by another member of the parish, or someone else.  Everyone in this group is on Medicare.  Can we think how hard this will be with private plans involved?

Pr Chris