Community Talk Back
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor
Medicare birthday
Dear Editor,
Medicare celebrates its 44th birthday this week. Millions of Americans have had access to basic healthcare in their older years —
many who could not afford a visit to the clinic or a hospitalization. Just ask today’s seniors how expensive it was to care for their
parents in the 1950s and ‘60s. People lost their health insurance once they retired and could spend a lifetime of savings just on
medical expenses.
The Medicare system lets patients to choose their own doctors and hospitals, allows for regional differences in reimbursement by
the government, and keeps administrative expenses low. Seniors now live healthier lives because of Medicare’s services.
As a success story, Medicare is an example of what could work now for those without employer health insurance, small
businesses, and those of limited means. Yet the opponents of any changes to America’s health care system have taken to
frightening seniors by spreading rumors that Medicare services will be cut. Shame on them — if they want a debate, fine, but
scaring older Americans and a 44-year-old success story is not right.
Jim DiUlio
Madison
Dear Editor,
Medicare celebrates its 44th birthday this week. Millions of Americans have had access to basic healthcare in their older years —
many who could not afford a visit to the clinic or a hospitalization. Just ask today’s seniors how expensive it was to care for their
parents in the 1950s and ‘60s. People lost their health insurance once they retired and could spend a lifetime of savings just on
medical expenses.
The Medicare system lets patients to choose their own doctors and hospitals, allows for regional differences in reimbursement by
the government, and keeps administrative expenses low. Seniors now live healthier lives because of Medicare’s services.
As a success story, Medicare is an example of what could work now for those without employer health insurance, small
businesses, and those of limited means. Yet the opponents of any changes to America’s health care system have taken to
frightening seniors by spreading rumors that Medicare services will be cut. Shame on them — if they want a debate, fine, but
scaring older Americans and a 44-year-old success story is not right.
Jim DiUlio
Madison