He added that there are limits to what the government can spend administering even programs as important as Medicare. Medicare, as big as it is and as much money as it has, can't grow forever. Analysts interviewed for this story said that Congress, not the president, is more likely to shape the future of Medicare's managed care component. With neither party firmly controlling the House or Senate, they say, negotiations are expected to be long and drawn out. In addition, some experts predicted that with the pressure of the elections gone, the issue could even be left for the next session of Congress.
Many analysts remain doubtful about the program's prospects.
Even if all of the insurers' and health plans' demands are met, she said, there is no guarantee that health plans won't be back in a few years demanding more. It is an ideological commitment much more than something that is justified by an actuarial assessment. Analysts say any proposal to overhaul Medicare completely would upset beneficiaries so much that it would be political suicide. All rights reserved.