Medicare Expansion Faces Challenges

As Senate Democrats consider expanding Medicare, the federal health program for the elderly, as part of a public option compromise, myriad political obstacles stand in their way. First, many Republicans oppose the idea, claiming the slippery slope to a government-run, single-payer system it would spark would be worse than the one a public option would have began. Second, three centrists - Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Ben Nelson (D-NE), and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) have voiced their opposition to the plan that would expand coverage, through a buy-in mechanism, to those between the ages of 55 and 64.

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