AARP Busts Health Care Reform Myths

With Congress home over the summer recess, AARP is taking the health care reform fight to the streets in an effort to address myths and get the facts out on health care reform.  All throughout the August recess, AARP will engage in “myth-busting” efforts aimed at getting the public the facts on health care reform, and reminding Congress to tackle the issue when they return to Washington, D.C. in September.

To clear up some of the confusion, AARP has busted a few of these health reform myths below:

Myth: Health care reform is socialized medicine.

Facts: Health reform will preserve the employer-based health care system so that Americans can keep their employer-sponsored plan.  For individuals outside of the employer-sponsored system, there would be a range of private health plans to choose from.  The so-called “public plan” option would seek to give consumers another choice if they can’t find affordable health coverage in the private market.  Every proposal that Congress is considering would allow people to choose their own doctors and hospitals.  

Myth:  Health care reform means rationed care.

Facts:  Health reform will not give the government the power to make life or death decisions for anyone regardless of their age. None of the health reform proposals being considered would stand between individuals and their doctors or prevent any American from choosing the best possible care.  

Myth:  Health reform will hurt Medicare.

Facts: None of the health care reform proposals being considered by Congress would cut Medicare benefits or increase your out-of-pocket costs for Medicare services.  For people in Medicare, health care reform is about lowering prescription drug costs for people in the "doughnut hole", keeping the doctor of your choice, improving the quality of care, and eliminating billions in waste that is causing poor care and medical errors.

Myth: Health care reform means the government can make life-and-death decisions for you.

Facts:  Health care reform will not give the government or your insurance company the power to make life-and-death decisions for you, regardless of your age. Health care reform isn't about putting the government in charge of difficult end of life decisions. It's about giving individuals and families the option to talk with their doctors in advance about difficult choices every family faces when loved ones near the end of their lives.

To be clear, AARP has NOT endorsed a particular piece of health care reform legislation- but AARP does support the need for health care reform and is supportive of several health care reform components being debated in Congress, such as closing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole,” creating a follow-up care benefit in Medicare to help avoid costly re-hospitalizations, and bringing quality, affordable health care choices to every American.

Find more on AARP’s Health Care Reform priorities and updated “myth-busting” information.