Older citizens do not fare well in any of the health care proposals. Age discrimination is rearing its ugly head. At a time in one's life when they most need health care, our older citizens will be the least likely to receive it. Since hospital and doctor fees are being reduced in Medicare, fewer and fewer health care providers will accept Medicare. Currently, only about half this country's doctors accept Medicare. Fewer MRI and CT scans will be allowed. No doubt other procedures and treatments will also be limited. The stimulus bill provided for a panel that would determine what treatments are "cost effective". The cost of treatment will be divided by the years of benefit that may be derived from the treatment. Older citizens will be at the bottom of that list. Using this policy, the President's mother would have just been denied treatment and would not have struggled with all the paperwork.
Side thought - Why didn't her lawyer son help her with the paperwork?
As medical costs rise for older citizens, they will become disposable. Good-bye Grandma! Good-bye Grandpa! It's been nice knowing you. You were once useful, but we don't need you anymore. Treatment denied - by a bureaucrat. This is, in effect, forced euthanasia. We can be judged by how we treat our oldest and youngest citizens. How do you wish to be judged?
Any health care reform passed should not be an anti "old folks" bill.
Signed,
The Electorate
No comments:
Post a Comment