ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

I am 69 and my wife is 67 years old. We live in Sherwood, OR. I am a semi-retired professional engineer and my wife volunteers much effort and time to Oregon State Swimming and P.E.O. We both babysit our 3 1/2 year old grandson 4 days each week. I have been an AARP member since 1996. It is extemely unusual for me to express my feelings and concerns about anything to the political arena.

We have been very concerned with a high degree of anxiety about the proposed health care reform especially with the cuts to Medicare and Med Advantage plans and the cost of living cuts to SS. Our preventive health care is provided by enrollment in Regence MedAdvantage in Oregon. The coverage includes annual physicals (These are not covered by Medicare except in the first 6 months of enrollment when one is covered.). My wife was diagnosed with the early stages of diabetes last year as a result of the annual physical. She is now under control with diet and excersise. I have had two major surgeries for cancer in the past and put a very high value on my annual physical. Both my cancers were detected in the very early stages by annual physcicals. In addition, I have annual checkups with three specialists to maintain my health awareness of the past cancers not spreading. These are covered by Regence MedAdvantage. I have been told in each case that Medicare would not cover them. With Regence MedAdvantage $500 of preventive dental care is covered. I am required to have four teeth cleanings each year to maintain my dental hygene. With the $500 and AARP Dental insurance coverage it is possible to have the four cleanings and an exam with a small out of pocket cost. Medicare does not have any dental coverage. I have only one good eye and therefore put a high value on routine eye exams. Medicare does not cover routine eye exams. Regence MedAdvantage does provide that coverage.

I have read that the proposed cuts to Medicare will include reduced payments to doctors and hospitals. There are already several doctors in the Portland, OR metro area that have stopped servicing Medicare patients. Further cuts in Medicare doctor payments will most likey cause more doctors to refuse to treat Medicare patients. A good comparison of the Regence MedAdvantage coverage compared to Medicare alone can be found on Regence.com.

Why has the Medicare become the target for the politicians to regain tax money? Definitely the fruad and abuse should be stopped. But, the fraud and abuse in the IRS, the Fedeeral Employees Health Benefits Program, and other federal agencies should also be stopped. Seniors have already been hit with having no cost of living increase to SS for two years. I suggest that persons who calculated that SS not get a cost of living increase come and live in my house for a year. We have seen our utilities, property taxes, state taxes and fees, other local assessments, and insurance premiums (including Medicare) steadily increase each year. As a senior I have worked the past 53 years and during that period paid all my federal, state and local taxes. I and all other seniors deserve to be treated with more respect.

I read in the Oregonian newspaper dated 9/17/09 an article on Health Care Reform that AARP policy strategist, John Rother said that the Medicare and MedAdvantage cuts should not erode senior's benefits. I ask you, where does John Rother get his information to back up that absurd statement, he needs to get real? I am seriously considering cancelling mine and my wifes AARP membership.

Why don't all US citizens just have the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) that Congress, the White House administration and all federal employees enjoy? According to internet web sources, the federal government subsidizes the FEHBP 72% to 75%. Recently an Oregon US Senator stated in the newspaper that he paid $324 per month for his family health care plan. Based on the 75% subsidy, the US taxpayers are paying $975 per month for the senator to have his family health care plan. It would be interesting to know the following: How does the FEHBP get funded and what is the annual budget; How many enrollments are there; How many and what type plan choices are there; and How many insurance companies provide the coverage? Have any investigations shown waste and fraud in the FEHBP?