Medicare a hot topic in Senate race

Hirono and Lingle offer very different paths to preserving the ailing program

By Derrick DePledge

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 16, 2012

~~<p>With the Medicare trust fund expected to run dry by 2024, Congress is considering structural changes to the federal health insurance program that covers nearly 50 million elderly and disabled beneficiaries, including more than 210,000 in Hawaii.</p>
<p>Former Gov. Linda Lingle, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, favors a premium-support option in which seniors would receive a voucher-like payment they could use to buy private insurance as an alternative to traditional Medicare. A private option could increase competition among insurers, improve efficiency and lower costs, while capping annual payments could help contain Medicare's growth.</p>
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With the Medicare trust fund expected to run dry by 2024, Congress is considering structural changes to the federal health insurance program that covers nearly 50 million elderly and disabled beneficiaries, including more than 210,000 in Hawaii.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, favors a premium-support option in which seniors would receive a voucher-like payment they could use to buy private insurance as an alternative to traditional Medicare. A private option could increase competition among insurers, improve efficiency and lower costs, while capping annual payments could help contain Medicare's growth. Login for more...