Argh! How does one afford Medicare, PERIOD??!!

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I just went and looked at the government Medicare site. Our ins payments for health ins come out before we even see, so it doesn't really hurt, and it's not like we have to put aside money for it. Since many people who are on Medicare are retired and on SSI, how the heck could you possibly afford it? Here's what I'm looking at and in shock over. I am assuming this is for an individual, not a couple. Part A monthly premium - $451 $451?!!!! A month? This would cover you if you were to be hospitalized. Keep in mind, there is a copay amount for the hospitalization ON TOP OF this monthly premium. If this were an ANNUAL premium I wouldn't be so disgusted. Part B monthly premium - $99 This is if you make 170K or less. I am assuming that means it would cost you $99 even if you were poverty level, making 20K. I'm not sure it would be possible to survive after paying out nearly $1200 a year in premiums for health care ON TOP OF your other co insurance costs that were not covered 100% by Part B. For purposes of comparison, if you make more than 170K, you pay $140. If you make more than $214K, you pay $200. If you make more than 320K, you pay $260. Part D monthly premium - $11.60 + your plan premium. This is your prescription plan, and I don't know exactly the details of the formulary it covers or the minimum amounts they charge per prescription. Again, if you're relatively healthy still and not on any chronic medications, you probably won't be as worried about this plan, and comparatively it seems cheap. I'm browsing plans available in my area and they are actually looking better than this info, it shows no monthly premium but I'm sure they'll get you somewhere. One that I found that looked reasonable gave me this info: Part B premium of $99. This would be doubled for two of us I assume, so just about $200. It gives $12 as the cost of in-patient care, so if that's for one day of being hospitalized, that's not terrible out of pocket. Outpatient prescription drugs was listed as $50. Dental services $35, other services $31. So... $24 additional, $100 additional, $70 additional, and $62 additional. Approx $468 monthly for two people for Medicare part B and D since this plan is a combo. This DOESN'T include Part A, and I'm not sure what else it may not include. I didn't get to look at the entire plan info, so I'm not sure if there are other costs or copays that are not on the front page that shows the plan overview. It LOOKS decent but still... that's an awful lot of money for people who are retired. I filtered as a person who was new to Medicare and doesn't qualify for any help. If I add the Part A x 2 to this whole bundle, it quickly becomes totally irrational. $902?! PLUS $468? Are you KIDDING ME? I daresay we better cut the mortgage in half first and make sure we never purchase any new vehicles, furniture, electronics, or toys like jet skis or boats or RVs. Cripes. Anybody here ON Medicare who doesn't qualify for help based on your income? How can you afford $1370 JUST on health care premiums and the estimated other out of pocket costs in a typical month? I am about sick now after doing my research.