Health Care Reform Puts Seniors on Edge

(CBS)  At a rally Friday in Orlando, Florida, there were more fears that health care reform will lead to rationing. The event was arranged by cardiologists already facing cuts in payments from Medicare. The doctors say they'll have to ration and possibly deny care to elderly patientS. Talk like that is fueling health care reform opposition among seniors, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson

A CBS News poll shows 57 percent of the 65-and-over crowd thinks their access to care will diminish and their own costs will rise.

At the heart of many fears is President Obama's proposal to find $300 billion in savings from Medicare over ten years. He says he can do it without touching benefits.

Dems Weigh Options for Health Care Endgame
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CBSNews.com coverage of Health Care Reform

"We are going to make Medicare more efficient, guaranteeing today's seniors better benefits than they have right now," the president said.

On the benefits side, Democrats aim to reduce the so-called Medicare doughnut hole. That's where some patients pay the full cost of their prescription medicine until they've spent $3,600 out of pocket.

Democrats would also eliminate co-payments for screenings and preventative services. Among the worries is $160 billion in cuts to private companies that provide Medicare advantage insurance to millions of seniors. The President says cuts will come from company profits, but Republicans say the companies may raise premiums, cut benefits or even drop out of medicare, forcing seniors to change plans.

"We just don't believe that the government will run it, can run it," said one senior.

With so many seniors worked up over health care reform, some are taking things in n stride, believing things will remain just as they are.

"So the plug won't be pulled on me unless they go against my wishes,'' joked one person.

As the debate drags on over the summer, the fact that there is no final plan to examine leaves a certain vacuum that's filled by uncertainty and fear

[jodigirlwithtriplets]

HR 3200 is taking a system of great care to a few, and making it bad care to all. That should not be its purpose.

HR 3200 does not make preventive medicine better, it makes it worse. Its structure closes down many private practice groups that provide tests like nuclear stress tests to rule in/out coronary artery disease.

HR 3200 cuts funding to imaging 4.3 billion dollars (cardiologists, radiologists, oncologists, all in big trouble). Moreover, they are going to VERY modestly boost incentives to be a primary care, YET, the "public option" is little or no better at reimbursement than Medicare.

It provides 5% above Medicare for the first 3 years, after that it's up for "negotiations", except without antitrust reform doctors know they will have no power for negotiations. Patients do not understand, doctors face annual threats to their reimbursement rates. As it is, reimbursements from Medicare are so low that many doctors cannot afford, or are not willing to do the high risk procedures with very little reimbursement. Who can blame them, when the large financial risk hugely outweighs the reimbursement?

This bill does nothing to address the large pool of unnecessary testing. The amount of patients coming to our office armed with print-outs from the internet begging for a CT scan for their headache is just one. People who have an 80% blockage in a coronary artery who are told they can be treated medically or with angioplasty - nearly always choose angioplasty because they get scared and, despite being told otherwise, thinks it will better solve their problem. People want what they want. Without Tort reform, doctors, particularly in high risk specialties, have little comfort in denying a patient what they demand. They know a happy patient is less likely to sue.

[jodigirlwithtriplets]

HR 3200 is taking a system of great care to a few, and making it bad care to all. That should not be its purpose.

HR 3200 does not make preventive medicine better, it makes it worse. Its structure closes down many private practice groups that provide tests like nuclear stress tests to rule in/out coronary artery disease.

HR 3200 cuts funding to imaging 4.3 billion dollars (cardiologists, radiologists, oncologists, all in big trouble). Moreover, they are going to VERY modestly boost incentives to be a primary care, YET, the "public option" is little or no better at reimbursement than Medicare.

It provides 5% above Medicare for the first 3 years, after that it's up for "negotiations", except without antitrust reform doctors know they will have no power for negotiations. Patients do not understand, doctors face annual threats to their reimbursement rates. As it is, reimbursements from Medicare are so low that many doctors cannot afford, or are not willing to do the high risk procedures with very little reimbursement. Who can blame them, when the large financial risk hugely outweighs the reimbursement?

This bill does nothing to address the large pool of unnecessary testing. The amount of patients coming to our office armed with print-outs from the internet begging for a CT scan for their headache is just one. People who have an 80% blockage in a coronary artery who are told they can be treated medically or with angioplasty - nearly always choose angioplasty because they get scared and, despite being told otherwise, thinks it will better solve their problem. People want what they want. Without Tort reform, doctors, particularly in high risk specialties, have little comfort in denying a patient what they demand. They know a happy patient is less likely to sue.

[pepperwood2]

What's wrong with Congress proposing for We The People the exact same Healthcare Plan that Our Elite President & Congress Have and The People are paying for? No strings or gimmicks attached, no reductions in health care for Seniors, no extra out of pocket expenses, freedom of choices, etc. In other words just be honest an tell it like it is. This Real Dream Plan is nothing more that An Another Elite Scheme Plan.

The People are now in debt Trillions of dollars, from bailing out all the Cheats & Fraud Corportations of this Country that our Elite of this Country were supposed to be overseeing. We've had enough, Sometimes the best plans are the ones we don't make. Fool us once, shame on you - fool us twice Shame on us. Its enough to make you sick.

[jab232]

I am a senior on Medicare and Social Security. My concern: As health insurance and medical costs double in the next ten years, what will keep Medicare from collapsing under the weight of rising costs. Only health care reform, including a public option, will help hold down costs and save Medicare.

It is time for the congress to put up or shut up. If congress people are in the pockets of the billion-dollar corporations rather than serving the ordinary people who are being exploited and abused, they need to vote and let everyone know it. That is especially true for the Blue Dog Democrats.

[trapbreaking]

Monday, August 24, 2009
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The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 28% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -12 (see trends).

Overall, 49% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Fifty percent (50%) now disapprove.

[trapbreaking]

Obama poll numbers take no rest from falling

President begins week of a family vacation

[ArmandB]

AARP is a sales tool for insurance companies and towing companies. It has never....not once asked me my opinion on anything. It gets members offering discounts on goods and services and doesn't mention their point of view on any issue concerning seniors in their membership paperwork. They don't represent anyone but their insurance companies and other marketing partners.

[jsd330]

Do some shopping and you'll find that you can beat their insurance rates on any product that they offer. I checked their car insurance rates and my current insurer(Progressive) was cheaper for better coverage.

[ArmandB]

On edge?, they should be on edge, the President is putting in place a heath care system which will counsil the elderly on opting for death over expensive heath care. The President seems to think that the best way to save Social Security is not to have elderly. Of course the President and Congress will be exempt from this new program. They will keep their current retirement and heath care benifits.

[velma179]

CBSLIKESOBAMA...

Your series of irrational comments are examples of why the legislation President Obama wants will certainly be made law.

The rational thinking folks that elected Mr. Obama are here to help you, even though you don't seem able to comprehend that ... or what you will gain from our efforts.

Sleep well... dream peacefully.

The country is in good hands.

[HGOODGUY]

THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY

REMINDS ME OF AN OLD SAYING---I DON'T MIND GETTING SCREWED--BUT AT LEAST KISS ME!!!