Speaking Truth To Liberals: Medicare is NOT Single-Payer!
Why is it that all liberal media, as well as the “experts” interviewed daily on NPR and Democracy Now, keep saying that “what we need is ‘Medicare for all’.” They repeatedly identify Medicare as the successful US “single-payer” program preferred by all its participants.
Possibly these spokespersons for Medicare-for-all, are not intentionally misleading the public. It could be that they are just too affluent to not know anyone personally who actually depends upon Medicare; or maybe they have never read US Department of Health and Human Services booklet entitled “Medicare & You” that sets out all the costs and coverage for participants. However, ignorance is no excuse for perpetuating the myth that Medicare is the model for single-payer health insurance. As a Medicare participant who is FOR single-payer health insurance, let me share a few facts with those who might not be very familiar with the current Medicare program.
Today’s Medicare has no dental coverage; no coverage for eye exams or eyeglasses; no coverage for hearing aids, no coverage for annual physical exams, or foot care. For mental health services, participants must pay 50% of an outpatient therapist’s charge. (But why would the elderly be in need of any of these services anyway?) Medicare will cover a “one-time ‘Welcome to Medicare’ physical exam.” However, there is a deductible that must be paid first, as well as a charge equal to 20% of the cost of each and every doctor’s visit or service. Other services and supplies not provided by Medicare include acupuncture, chiropractic services, several laboratory tests, long-term care, orthopedic shoes, prescription drugs, shots to prevent illness, and some surgical procedures given in ambulatory surgical centers (you can see the entire list of “What’s NOT Covered by Part A and Part B” on page 38 of the aforementioned “Medicare & You.”) For those items that are covered, there is a charge of at least 20% of the medical provider’s costs, and a deductible that must be met.
Most of the senior citizens I know cannot afford to have Medicare alone. To get the medical services the elderly need at an affordable price they must purchase---in addition to monthly payments for Medicare (Parts A & B)--- an additional private health insurance policy for Part C. This private Part C insurance covers all those things that Medicare will not cover, and there is no deductible and no payment for a % of the doctor’s costs. There is a co-pay for most medical services; as well as a monthly premium. Everyone in my state of Massachusetts is also required by law to purchase prescription drug coverage (Part D) from a private insurance company. Massachusetts’ mandated state healthcare program is often talked about as the model for the nation. Fortunately for low income seniors in Massachusetts there is another program called “Prescription Advantage” that helps pay for drugs, and pays part of the premium charged by private insurance companies for Parts C & D.
So, you see, there is no way anyone could say that Medicare by itself is adequate coverage for all. It is not even adequate for the seniors who must rely on it. I would like to see Obama and the members of Congress try to cover their medical expenses with this so-called “single-payer” program. They would never trade the comprehensive coverage they have for Medicare. Clearly, Medicare needs to be expanded to cover the basic medical needs (set out above) that it does not cover today. However, that is not the President’s plan.
You have to listen closely to those trying to sell you on Medicare-for-all to hear the underlying message. Listen to what politicians, medical experts and the President say about “cutting waste.” Where do they plan to cut it? From those very supplemental program payments to subsidized private insurance plans that make Medicare workable and affordable for low-income seniors. Yes, Medicare is to be stripped of even more benefits. And the private insurance companies that now provide the supplemental programs, are ready to go along with this. Why? Because the trade off is so much more profitable: mandatory health insurance for all those millions of US citizens not yet insured. Just look at what US Representative Dennis Kucinich, the fearless champion for single-payer health insurance, had to say in a recent interview about private industry’s support for Obama’s proposed health insurance plan:
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH: I mean, right now what I see is a public plan that gives the insurance companies the option to pick the people’s pockets. As long as you have a public plan, which now is going to be supported by what? Cuts in Medicaid, on the other hand? And undermining benefits to the elderly? [my emphasis] Are you kidding me? I mean, this is—the balance that’s being constructed right now indicates an inherent flaw in the proposal, to begin with. Now, I will vote for it, if we can keep the single payer in, because I think it would be worth the price. But without the single-payer provision in it, I don’t know what’s in the bill that would really be worthy of supporting. (http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/21/as_obama_continues_push_for_health...)
Even though he knows what is coming regarding “undermining benefits to the elderly,” Kucinich says he will vote for the proposal supported by Obama and the private insurance companies, if it includes a completely noncompetitive and unattractive “public plan;” a DOA “single-payer provision.” You see, no one is going to fight to improve Medicare coverage for the elderly. It isn’t profitable. So, we will have to do it ourselves!
July 30, 2009 is the 44th “birthday” of Medicare. In Boston, members of Mass-Care, Jobs With Justice , Mass Nurses Association, Democratic Socialists of America, Boston Liberation Health Group, Physicians for a National Health Plan, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, Our Bodies Ourselves, Alliance for Democracy, UE Northeast Region, Progressive Democrats of America, and many other groups and concerned citizens will meet on the front steps of the State House at Noon to celebrate the occasion, and to let the Governor know what improvements in coverage are needed to make Medicare coverage truly adequate for the elderly and everyone else. For more information on this event, you can call (860) 281-9792, or visit www.massjwj.net. For inspiration, see the photos and articles about actions by Mass Senior Action Council athttp://www.masssenioraction.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=40030, as well as the article and photos by David Goodman describing seniors protesting cuts in heath care funding and cuts in the Prescription Advantage program see http://www.openmediaboston.org/node/792
Mary Lynn Cramer, MA, MSW, LICSW, Senior Citizen
