By Lori Parham
AARP Florida State Director
For more than two years, AARP members and volunteers in Florida have been demanding that our national leaders take action to improve access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans. The good news is that now that debate is happening.
The bad news is that, unfortunately, many Floridians are confused and concerned by sometimes outlandish claims by those who oppose health reform.
It’s time for someone to clear the air and provide the real facts on health reform. Let’s start at the very top: Our current health system is broken. It costs too much, delivers too little and will only get worse if we don’t adopt fundamental, common-sense reforms.
Some say if reform is passed, you won’t be able to buy private insurance, choose your doctor, your hospital or control your treatment.
It’s just not true. Most Americans now get health coverage through their jobs. Both House and Senate plans under debate in Congress leave employer-sponsored coverage in place and with it, broad choices for people to pick their doctors and hospitals.
Then there’s cost. Some say we can’t afford reform, especially in a recession. Actually, one big reason to act is to help revitalize our economy, especially here in Florida. Nearly one in three Americans say they can’t afford to save for retirement because of high health costs. Florida’s economy is showing signs that it may soon pull out of the current slump. But if the retirement plans of millions of Americans are put on hold because health-care costs keep soaring out of control, we’ll never restart Florida’s growth.
Others say health reform means the end of Medicare. That’s nonsense. Actually, according to the nation’s largest group of doctors, “Without [reform] physicians face payment cuts of nearly 40 percent over the next five years that will force them to limit the number of seniors they can treat – right as the baby boomers begin aging into Medicare.” Health reform is actually key to protecting Medicare.
One persistent myth is that health reform means seriously ill seniors will be encouraged to refuse care at the end of life. According to Republican Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida, that’s not true either. Actually, Brown-Waite says, legislation would let your doctor be reimbursed for time spent explaining your care options, including a living will. A living will doesn’t deny you control over end-of-life decisions. In fact, it’s just the opposite. It makes sure your wishes are followed if you aren’t able to communicate them.
Another myth involves talk of “rationing health care.” Unfortunately, some vulnerable, seriously ill people are being frightened by this cynical falsehood. Again, the truth pains a completely different picture. Ask yourself this question: If you lose your job and health benefits, could you afford COBRA coverage that would cost four to six times more in health premiums just as your income plunged? Health reform would provide affordable coverage, just when you need help the most, for those who lose jobs or just don’t make very much money. It’s also designed to stabilize future cost increases.
Here’s another whopper: You gain nothing if health reform passes, particularly if you already have insurance. The truth: If you’re 65+ and belong to a Medicare Part D plan, an agreement between the White House and major drug manufacturers would cut the cost of brand-name drugs by half once you reached the “doughnut hole” or Part D coverage gap. Other parts of bills being debated would close the “doughnut hole’ entirely over time.
Other provisions would forbid insurers from denying you coverage for pre-existing conditions or from dropping your coverage if they think your care is getting too expensive.
Finally – and of particular interest to AARP – some say that health reform means slashing benefits for seniors. That’s not true. These plans would not cut benefits for seniors. If they did, AARP would fight them with all the strength of our 40 million members.
Congress can and should save health-care dollars, however, by finding savings that won’t undermine care for beneficiaries.
Let’s crack down hard on wasteful health spending, including fraud and abuse in Medicare that costs us all. Let’s track and stop fraudsters, redirect spending for care that costs too much and isn’t working, and cut back on overpayments to insurers. These actions can help put Medicare on more stable footing so that the program can keep giving current and future beneficiaries affordable, quality care.
With no reform, you’ll pay much more for health premiums, still fear developing a pre-existing condition, still pay too much for health care that is too often of poor quality, and still have to worry that you’re only one serious illness away from being financially wiped out, even if you still have insurance.
Americans have waited long enough for health care to be fixed. Everyone – individuals, businesses, health professionals and government – has a stake in improving access to affordable, quality health care for all generations. Now it’s up to our elected leaders to get the job done. It’s time to fix this broken system.
AARP's SHAARP Session blog dispels common health reform myths
