Medicare Scare Tactics Being Used in Health Care Debate

Health Care Reform has been passed in both the House and the Senate now and there is still work to be done to iron out the details.  Instead of certain factions settling down and focusing on getting the work done, they are carrying on the same scare tactics that we have gone through for the last eight years.

O.K.  Scaring everyone in the country about terrorists and turning the whole thing into a war is one thing.  Not great, but not as personal as terrifying seniors about Medicare.  There is no comparison between the two, and it is possible that the deficits that are making it difficult if not next to impossible to balance the budget and not destroy health care and Medicare would not be as devastating if so many billions were spent on an ill-advised war that not only was not wanted by the people of the United States, but not wanted by the United Nations and most countries around the world.

There is not much we can do about that now except to figure out a way to get things taken care of both in Iraq and Afghanistan and make as graceful an exit as possible.  As for Medicare and health care, there are things we can do – and lawmakers are trying to do these things – so that there is coverage for everyone and it is affordable, yet doesn’t break the government’s bank.Unfortunately, some of the same factions in this country who were scaring the public about terrorists are scaring seniors about Medicare right at a time that they have about a month to make some critical decisions during open enrollment period which ends December 31st.

Some commercials by these factions have come out and said that President Obama’s health care reform would be funded by basically stealing $500 billion from Medicare.  That would scare any senior who relies on Medicare.  That is also not true, in fact, it is a blatant lie.

There is information available for questions about healthcare reform and Medicare.  There is a White House website at WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck which discusses healthcare reform in general, including Medicare.  For information regarding Medicare alone, go to medicare.gov or cms.gov and there is specific information about Medicare.

Regardless of the scare tactics that some may use, don’t believe everything you hear (or read).  Yes, there may be some cuts in Medicare, but they will be small cuts on products or services rarely used.  In addition, they will not be paid for by Medicare recipients, but will be dealt with through insurance companies, hospitals, doctors and other funding.

Your Medicare will stay in tact.  Don’t believe the scare tactics and don’t believe the hype.  Find out for yourself by checking the official websites listed above.

Filed under: General-Medicare