Quote:
Originally Posted by saratogaman
"Obamacare" is really "Congresscare." The president laid out the basic principles that he wanted, but Congress has taken the life out of it -- you don't think that the health system lobbyists had anything to do with that do you? How cynical of me.
And then there is the disinformation nonsense about death panels, socialized medicine, waiting lines, no choice of provider, etc. Most of us here in The Villages are already covered by a government option, single-payer system: it's called Medicare. And we have complete freedom of choice.
Duh!
|
Somehow I missed the 'complete freedom of choice' in 1965 when Medicare and Medicaid came into being. I had no choice but to pay increased taxes to support the new program. My mother, who had retired from the US Government, had no other insurance plans offered. The coverage has been expanded many times, the last big one being Medicare part D. As a result of ongoing congressional and presidential irresponsibility, Medicare/Medicaid are underfunded by tens of trillions of dollars. The chickens are now coming home to roost.
On the front page of the Daily Sun's local section is an article saying that Medicare reimbursement to Nursing homes is being cut and that we will have 1,960 fewer nursing home employees next year. There exists a shortage of nursing home beds in Florida. The focus is on independent living, assisted living and memory care facilities. Here the market sets the price, and trust me, it is steep. Nursing homes cast themselves as rehab centers, Medicare still pays very well for that. If your loved one needs a nursing home and you want a good one, you can wait years to get in. They are concerned that after you do your mandatory spend down, they will have to accept Medicare reimbursement rates, and they cannot turn a profit or even break even and provide decent care. There are many more cuts ahead.
If you look at the system realistically, you will realize that severe rationing of care lies ahead and it's not far off. A Canadian or British system that determines who gets what treatment based on age and health is going to come into being for those of us on Medicare - there is simply no way around it. Do you trust the government that put its seniors and indigent in this position to do anything else if they take over the rest of healthcare? I certainly do not and do not wish it upon my children and grandchildren.