Health Care concerns
Morning,
I just read a very disturbing article (see http://www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=d067cc6d0ccaab6e) about the healthcare concerns of aging boomers and seniors. The article also stated the following about the current administration's agenda to cut senior "entitlement" funds:
"It appears likely that the Bush administration will now put on a full-court-press to pass their proposed $560 Billion cut in Medicare benefits for current and about-to-become Medicare recipients during the next 10 years."
The article continues with data about the fact that "half of the Boomers will have arthritis; nearly 25-percent of them will have diabetes; over half will have more than one chronic condition; and … surprise … they’ll generally be overweight with a third being classified as obese." And then, the writer raises the question of who will care for us as we age? He further states that most of us have worked our entire lives with the expectation that there will be funds to rely on at the point in time that we turn 65.
Now, please know that I am NOT an alarmist. I tend to not over-react. Much can happen between now and a budget bill. And, with a change in administration, issues can be reversed. I do expect that because I'm close to 65, I'll still have access to medical cost help. Will the younger boomers or even the next generation? Now, that's another question.
I write this as a concerned boomer. I have worked since I'm 16 -- first as a teacher, then a social worker, a college professor. Then , for the past 20+ years for myself -- but still paying my taxes, etc. I've done good work and helped many along the way. I consider myself a valuable member of society. I've never made a fortune, but have always gotten by just fine.
I can tell you one thing though -- in the past 6 years since being divorced, and therefore needing individual health insurance ... I've had a hell of a time getting decent health insurance. I've paid obscene amounts of money for awful plans.
If you read my previous post, you'll see that I had knee surgery this week. Now, I must admit I have a good plan now.... but that's because I have a partner and am not a sole practitioner anymore. That helps. My knee surgery will swallow my $2000.00 deductible, but should cover everything beyond that. Not bad. If, however, I'd had my previous plan, it would have cost me a $5000.00 deductible. That would have hurt a lot. And, I'm one of the 50% of boomers who also has arthritis -- so who knows what the future holds. I'm working on losing weight (need to lose about 20 pounds), eating better to be healthy, will resume a work-out schedule when the knee heals. But, I'm not so naive to think I won't have a health issue or two as I continue to age. Will I have help paying for it? Who knows. Is that fair? Who knows?
All of the presidential candidates and the administration (all boomers, by the way) have no worries. They have the best health insurance available. John McCain is 71. I'm sure he supplements his government income with social security and I'm sure that medicare has helped pay for the melanoma and other conditions. Lucky guy. But, what about the rest of us?
POINT: Is there anything we can do, as a collective body of aging people, to alter the future of healthcare? Why aren't we marching in the streets to advocate for our needs? Can we be rallied? LET ME HEAR YOUR IDEAS!
I'm pretty angry. Are you?
Thanks,
Ann
I just read a very disturbing article (see http://www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=d067cc6d0ccaab6e) about the healthcare concerns of aging boomers and seniors. The article also stated the following about the current administration's agenda to cut senior "entitlement" funds:
"It appears likely that the Bush administration will now put on a full-court-press to pass their proposed $560 Billion cut in Medicare benefits for current and about-to-become Medicare recipients during the next 10 years."
The article continues with data about the fact that "half of the Boomers will have arthritis; nearly 25-percent of them will have diabetes; over half will have more than one chronic condition; and … surprise … they’ll generally be overweight with a third being classified as obese." And then, the writer raises the question of who will care for us as we age? He further states that most of us have worked our entire lives with the expectation that there will be funds to rely on at the point in time that we turn 65.
Now, please know that I am NOT an alarmist. I tend to not over-react. Much can happen between now and a budget bill. And, with a change in administration, issues can be reversed. I do expect that because I'm close to 65, I'll still have access to medical cost help. Will the younger boomers or even the next generation? Now, that's another question.
I write this as a concerned boomer. I have worked since I'm 16 -- first as a teacher, then a social worker, a college professor. Then , for the past 20+ years for myself -- but still paying my taxes, etc. I've done good work and helped many along the way. I consider myself a valuable member of society. I've never made a fortune, but have always gotten by just fine.
I can tell you one thing though -- in the past 6 years since being divorced, and therefore needing individual health insurance ... I've had a hell of a time getting decent health insurance. I've paid obscene amounts of money for awful plans.
If you read my previous post, you'll see that I had knee surgery this week. Now, I must admit I have a good plan now.... but that's because I have a partner and am not a sole practitioner anymore. That helps. My knee surgery will swallow my $2000.00 deductible, but should cover everything beyond that. Not bad. If, however, I'd had my previous plan, it would have cost me a $5000.00 deductible. That would have hurt a lot. And, I'm one of the 50% of boomers who also has arthritis -- so who knows what the future holds. I'm working on losing weight (need to lose about 20 pounds), eating better to be healthy, will resume a work-out schedule when the knee heals. But, I'm not so naive to think I won't have a health issue or two as I continue to age. Will I have help paying for it? Who knows. Is that fair? Who knows?
All of the presidential candidates and the administration (all boomers, by the way) have no worries. They have the best health insurance available. John McCain is 71. I'm sure he supplements his government income with social security and I'm sure that medicare has helped pay for the melanoma and other conditions. Lucky guy. But, what about the rest of us?
POINT: Is there anything we can do, as a collective body of aging people, to alter the future of healthcare? Why aren't we marching in the streets to advocate for our needs? Can we be rallied? LET ME HEAR YOUR IDEAS!
I'm pretty angry. Are you?
Thanks,
Ann
Labels: Bush budget for seniors, healthcare, Medicare, social security
posted by Ann Fry, Head Boomer at
8:35 AM
2 Comments
