I agree with MaryElizabeth. Quality of life is my measure as well as someones overall health. I exercise with a 94-year-old woman and she can out-exercise me at 71 and is far healthier. So age is just a number and one cannot judge for another nor should we.

I'd say a combination of both, although quality of life is BIG in my book. Who wants to live with, even if it is only a year or two, hurting shoulders? I can't imagine having a knife in my shoulders and living anywhere a normal life. It can be agony. It is, though, ultimately your decision.

On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the bill that led to Medicare and Medicaid. In 1972, Medicare was expanded to cover the disabled Low-income families, Pregnant women, People of all ages with disabilities, People who need long-term care. Many beneficiaries never contributed. The topic here concerns private insurance "supplemental" coverage. The private insurance providers are paid by tax dollars to provide supplemental coverage in combination with individual premiums taken from SS benefits. Health care providers love tapping into this "pot of money". It's only tax payer's funds after all? Both my shoulders need replaced but I feel that at 71 years old it's a waste of tax dollars. My surgeon told me he recently replaced a 95 year old's shoulder? Where do we draw the line? Quality of life, medical necessity?

So much for privatizing Medicare! When LBJ was getting Medicare passed, he told everyone not to discuss how much it was going to cost! I worked in healthcare finance for 11 years, and the person responsible for revenue at the hospital hated Medicare!