If they cut social security and medicare

[Tybee]

A couple of months ago the Republicans were saying Medicare and Social Security were not off the table for cuts.
So now that Musk has gotten access to both of these databases (as of last night) and is reputedly running code in them, and also has access to the Federal payment system, what plans are you making to get by without Social Security and Medicare? I'm feeling the need in own household to make a plan as to what we might do if these get cut off suddenly.

[happystuff]

Heading into retirement - I'm terrified! SS is to be my biggest source of income and Medicare will be my medical.

[bae]

I am just about to fill out the paperwork to start receiving Social Security benefits this year. I will appreciate the additional income.

However, I'd always assumed the SS system would be belly-up by the time I got around to collecting anything, so I did not include the income in my retirement financial planning. It's all gravy to me.

I was counting on Medicare however. My solution there may be to buy private insurance, probably in some other country, as in a few years I expect to be living overseas much of the year.

[Tybee]

Happy, I am trying not to be scared but I really hear you, and that is why I started this, to see how others were factoring it in.

"However, I'd always assumed the SS system would be belly-up by the time I got around to collecting anything, so I did not include the income in my retirement financial planning."
I guess that was good planning right there.

[iris lilies]

I have always thought, and have expressed here more than once, that means testing seems like a good first step for grappling with the huge Social Security burden that is not funding itself (or is projected to soon run out.) The logical way to means test is review other sources of income for people who receive SS and perhaps cut their SS.

[ToomuchStuff]

My solution there may be to buy private insurance, probably in some other country, as in a few years I expect to be living overseas much of the year.

The last thing I heard on SS going away, was some time ago. It involved cutting for those that don't have income, but live on investments.

That said, should we be taking odd on this site, who leaves the country first and who stays and complains?

[bae]

That said, should we be taking odd on this site, who leaves the country first and who stays and complains?

Well, I already speak multiple languages, have visas and housing already taken care of, sufficient funds overseas already to cover my costs, and 3 freshly-issued quite-rare-and-expensive vacation rental permits for my houses here on the island.

Much of my motivation is that my dear daughter lives overseas and will not likely be living in the USA in the foreseeable future. I could rent out my places here, and use that to fund living all over the world, which I'd love to do before I get too old to do it happily.

I had thought to just move onto a really nice circumnavigation-capable yacht and wander the world, but my experience in a Seattle->Hawaii crossing teaches me that I value the company of others too much to live with just 1-2 other people for weeks at a time. I think this puts the kibosh on my idea of hanging out on the ISS as well :-)

[jp1]

I have always thought, and have expressed here more than once, that means testing seems like a good first step for grappling with the huge Social Security burden that is not funding itself (or is projected to soon run out.) The logical way to means test is review other sources of income for people who receive SS and perhaps cut their SS.

The day means testing for social security starts is the day social security becomes just another welfare program that can eventually be destroyed by the republicans.

[catherine]

This is all a battle for the soul of America. It is Civil War II, just without guns (so far).

[Tybee]

Sadly, Catherine, you are right.

I am wishing that VT, NH, and ME could become a Canadian Province--New England would be a good name.
Edited to add MA, RI, and CT, sorry not to have included you guys