In accordance with the GOP's aversion to social programs and penchant for corporate welfare, Medicare reform 2003 will hand over government health care to private insurance companies for profit. Their scheme will be long-term and multi-faceted. First, when an arbitrary spending cap for Medicare is exceeded, an 'insolvency alert' will trigger calls to cut benefits and increase premiums. Then, millions will be induced to abandon Medicare for HMO's offering 'modest coverage' for prescription drugs paid for by government funds while Medicare will be prohibited from doing the same. (Eligibility limits based on income and assets will keep total coverage very modest.) Further on in 2010, some HMO's will be allowed to directly compete with Medicare initially offering richer benefits and lower costs. Of course, the sick will be rejected and face higher Medicare premiums due to the decreasing number of contributors. The solidarity of Medicare will be broken because different people will have different costs and benefits. In the end, the collateral damage from this law will be scores of sick and elderly without health care. Incidentally, George Bush and the Republicans are planning a similar fate for Social Security if they remain in power.

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