CMA Health Policy Blog

Medicare and … the Military?

January 9, 2013 at 9:29 pm Judith Stein Leave a comment

I read David Brooks’ New York Times editorial yesterday with dismay. It seems Medicare is not only to blame for the federal deficit, but also for Sen. Hagel’s nomination and the end of America’s military might. I have been representing Medicare beneficiaries and studying Medicare since 1977. Even I was surprised by these positions.

The determination to slash Medicare seems never ending. One hardly knows where to begin responding. But we need to try, before it’s too late. Before the next deficit cutting activities get underway, we need to set the record straight.

The basic, public Medicare program was a cost-effective success. Medicare brought access to health care to older people who were refused private health insurance. It dramatically decreased poverty among older people. Unnecessary payments to private Medicare plans, unrestricted payments for prescription drugs and policies aimed at privatizing Medicare increased the program’s costs exponentially. These expensive provisions should be the targets for those whose true goal is to reduce the deficit. If the will exists, there is a way to reduce costs while preserving Medicare’s promise.
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Watch this short video from the Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-timeline2.cfm. It will remind you why Medicare matters.

Entry filed under: Cost-sharing, Deficit Reduction, Fiscal Responsibility, Health Care Reform, Health Care Reform Repeal, Medicare, Medicare Reform, Myths, Public Option, Public vs. Private Health Coverage, Reform, Uncategorized. Tags: Deficit; Medicare, Health Care Reform, Medicare Reform, new york times, Private Plans, Public plan.