Saving Social Security

Quote: link

An illustrative scenario examined by the CBO finds that benefits paid to beneficiaries would be cut by 7% in 2032 and by an average of 28% per year from 2033 to 2036.

Quote: odiousgambit

The latest estimate for the depletion of the SS fund is 7 years. Then it will be a simple transfer of tax funds from workers to the retired, and if nothing is done we recipients will get a haircut.



that's going to be a shock

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/social-securitys-main-trust-fund-faces-depletion-2032-triggering-benefit-cuts .

Quote: odiousgambit

The breakeven point is closer, though, than 84 or 85, you draw up about even around 78 if your retirement age as set for normal was 65 like mine

It's a personal decision depending a lot on how long you think you will live. Naturally everyone wants to defend what they decided and naturally Bob's decision makes him think everyone should have made the same one

Quote: AZDuffman

This seems impossible. The lefties on here keep saying how smooth healthcare will go if the government runs it.

Quote: Gandler

It is. The VA (which is a prime example of government healthcare where everything is gov run and gov employees,) and it has better satisfaction than average private healthcare in U.S.

https://www.npr.org/2023/06/14/1181827077/va-hospitals-health-care

Basically, everyone who has the option of VA care almost always chooses it. The level of care is equivalent or better depending on service area and there is no charge. Also, wait times are shorter overall (this is another frequent point of lying by the right.)

https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/research/citations/pubbriefs/articles.cfm?RecordID=1183


Most anti-VA stuff is selective and anecdotal, and a sign of locally bad management in X hospital or clinic, while the system overall is amazing.

Quote: SOOPOO

I worked at a VA hospital, as well as a private hospital, 40 ish years ago. You literally would have had to be insane if you thought the level of care was equivalent between the two. Veterans did feel ‘welcome’ at the VA hospital. And since it was FREE they would choose it if they had a choice.

I also for the years following working there was aware of my local VA hospital. In brief, they were able to hire the doctors that were not hired by the local private hospitals. Leftovers. I guarantee you that if I had a choice between the VA system and a private hospital, there is no way I’d pick the VA. It’s too many years of experience to be called ‘anecdotal’.

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Based on independent, peer-reviewed studies and CMS data, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides care that is generally as good as, or better than, private practice, often with lower medical error rates and higher safety ratings. Inpatient, VA hospitals have shown roughly half the rate of medical errors and adverse events compared to community hospitals.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)


Key Findings on VA vs. Private Practice Quality

Safety and Errors: A study examining inpatient care found that community-based hospitals had approximately two times the rate of adverse events and medical errors (3.01 per 100 discharges) compared to VA hospitals (1.49 per 100 discharges).

Surgical Outcomes: VA surgical care is consistently found to be equal to or better than non-VA, with lower 30-day mortality and complication rates, particularly in complex procedures like joint replacements and lung surgery.

Independent Quality Ratings: As of late 2024, 79% of VA hospitals received 4 or 5 stars from CMS for patient satisfaction, compared to only 40% of private sector hospitals.

Medication Management: Studies have found that veterans treated at non-VA hospitals experienced three times the rate of medication omissions compared to those treated in VA facilities.

Overall Performance: A 2024 systematic review of studies since 2015 concluded that the quality of care in the VA is comparable or superior to community care in the majority of studies, although findings on access and wait times are more mixed.
VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs

While the VA often performs better on clinical quality metrics, some studies indicate private hospitals can score higher in patient experience and satisfaction, particularly concerning pain management.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)

Quote: rxwine