Experience shows that such a plan would result in only a modest saving, the spokesman said.

Budgets aren't balanced with one or two good, big ideas, and even modest savings don't come easily.

It falls most heavily on people with very modest savings or houses who have not taken appropriate advice.

All said they had little if any insurance, modest savings and few ideas.

His long years in government have left him with extremely modest savings.

Administration officials say they are willing to consider alternatives that produce more modest savings in Medicare.

However, many own their homes, with an average value in 2011 of £127,000, but only modest savings.

Even relatively modest savings can amount to an impressive nest egg, he said.

The aim is to have private plans control costs, but many health experts say this transformation would produce only modest savings.

Critics, however, say the modest savings take on even less significance when the problems created by the new regulations are taken into consideration.