I read a New York Times article about a 48 year old woman on Medicare with ALS. The point of the article was the stupid way in which Medicare and private insurers decide what device it will pay for to help such a person. I wondered why a 48 year old woman was eligible for Medicare, which is intended for those 65 and older. I went to the Medicare web site and entered info for someone who is disabled but younger than 65 and found these three conditions:
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS)
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) / Railroad Retirement Benefits (RRB)
Why these three? Why any? Why not Medicare for all U.S. citizens?
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