NEW LEAVES
We are in need of some changes now that the New Year is under way.
One leaf we need to turn is that of medical care and that is not just for older folks, either - but for all of us.
The cost of medical care - both services and products of all types have skyrocketed in recent years and nothing has been done about except for some token payment of presription medicines under certain conditions.
Are you aware of how many mecical offices have signs in the lobby area reading: "Full payment required in Advance of Treatments" – or, words to that effect and that they are becoming common. No "on account" payments without regard to regularity of such payments in the past. It is now:"Pay At the Door" – or else.
A second medical leaf which needs turning is the one which encourages citizens to believe that Medicare free.
Medicare is far from being a freebie. It is more accurately called, a compulsory health insurance plan and recipients pay monthly premiums. My wife and I will ante up $132.00 each and every month as long as we both shall live. That's $1,584 per year. It makes limited payments toward a list of qualyfing medical conditons. Among those portions for which Medicare does not pay is prescribed drugs, as you, no doubt, have heard since that subject became a political football. Because payment by Medicare is limited in this way, it is essential that a supplmentary insurance be bought to take care of more of the expenses involved. Mine costs $109.00 per month;my wife's is $144.00 per month. That's $253.00 per month or $3036 for the year for supplementary protection. We spend, then, at total of:$4620.00 which is well over one third of our total earnings for the year.
I am not knocking any of this.
I'm glad we have such protection, but I would like to see and hear our young people being made aware of just how much and why they need to save for their old age. The medical-business world, our politicians and much of the media spend far too much time and effort dwelling on bankruptcy rumors and narrow political and economic skullduggery.
One more leaf to turn, please.
Much of the medical profession seems hell-bent on bringing completely socialized medicine to these shores as soon as possible. Witness steadily increasing prices at all levels. The prescription I bought ten years less than $20.00 is not just under $100.00 for an identical, four-ounce bottle. The local pharmacy pays more for their supplies, so it must be somewhere beyond the local level, but where? Do we dare ask?
Medicine has gone "big business,"as well. Since our local doctors joined a cosmopolitan group, charges have risen to new heights. When our community office was opened - about twenty-five years ago - the charge for an "in office" visit was $4.00. Today you will need well over one hundred dollars, depending on what procedures were done. Many of those who have insurance have not noticed the increases because "my insurance copany pays for everything." Many of them are, at the moment, doing so, but how longer can we expect that to continue in the face of steadily rising prices?
The New Year suggests some changes be made.
A.L.M. January 1, 2004 [c561wds].
