That will indeed be the likely demarcation point between those who have Medicare and those who don't - if the Romney/Ryan team wins the election, that is.
According to the plan, those who are 55 or older when it goes into place will still be able to partake in the benefits of Medicare as we have known it for nearly 50 years now. But those unfortunate enough to be younger than 55 at the time the Ryan Plan is implemented will be forced to fend for themselves on the open market of private health-care insurance, the same private health-care industry that sees old age itself as a massive pre-existing condition.
Oh, sure, the government will provide some token "subsidy" with which to purchase insurance, but how many of us believe it will be enough to actually do so?
The not-for-profit Medicare has been the one bulwark against the elderly not being able to get medical coverage.
Assuming the Romney administration signs the already passed-in-the-House Ryan budget on Day 1 and that it might take a year or so to actually implement it, those born after 1957 or 1958 will be the first to experience the brave new world of a health care system for old people based on vouchers.
We need to shout this fact from the rooftops 24/7 from now till November 6th. The stakes have never been higher.