We are all being inundated with information and misinformation on the health care reform activities in both the House and the Senate these days. Separating the wheat from the chaff is pretty difficult given the dearth of available factual literature. It’s amazing how many people are for or against a specific item-such as single-payer–when they have not a clue as to what it is or infers. None-the-less, it is always gratifying to see people engaged in the process. The best thing we can do is to remain abreast of the current factual data and argue pro or con over the real facts.
The following email was sent to me by the AARP. It contains some points that have become muddled in the debate–so it is their attempt to shed some light on the subject.
Jim O’
FACT #1: Medicare will not be ended, and no benefits or services will be cut.
Your services will not be ended, nor will your benefits be cut. AARP’s position on this could not be clearer. And we have sent this message loud and clear to Congress. While the current proposals include savings in Medicare by cutting out fraud, abuse, waste, and inefficiency, we’re standing up and making sure benefits for Medicare recipients are not only fully protected, but are improved.1
FACT #2: No legislation currently in Congress would mandate the rationing of care. Period.
Our staff has read all of the legislation circulating in Congress and there are no provisions in these bills that would ration care for our members. None. If any ever did, we would vigorously fight to stop that legislation.2
FACT #3: There is no provision of any piece of legislation that would promote euthanasia of any kind.
The rumors out there are flat out lies. Right now Medicare does not cover counseling for end-of-life care. The portion of the bill in question would simply provide coverage for optional end-of-life consultations with doctors, so that the patient can be aware of all of the treatment options on the table. It is not mandatory and it has nothing to do with euthanasia.3
FACT #4: We have not endorsed President Obama’s plan.
In fact, we haven’t endorsed any plan. We are supporting reform of our health care system, something that AARP has pushed for many years. We’re working closely with Republican and Democratic members of Congress to lower health care costs and to ensure quality affordable coverage for older Americans – and we want reform legislation passed and signed by the president this year.4
So what is AARP fighting for in health reform?
- Stopping insurance companies from charging older Americans unaffordable premiums because of their age.
- Ending the practice of excluding people from insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
- Holding down health costs and making insurance coverage more affordable for all Americans.
- Making prescription drugs more affordable by narrowing the Medicare doughnut hole, bringing generics to market faster, and allowing Medicare to negotiate better drug prices.
Find out more and take action at HealthActionNow.org.
