Medicare Costs Are New Focus for Candidates

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 - Medicare has suddenly emerged as a volatile issue in this year's elections, as Democrats are vowing to roll back a sharp increase in premiums announced this month and the Bush campaign is seeking to blame lawmakers, including Senator John Kerry, for the rise.

The trading of accusations reflects efforts by both parties to seek advantage with older voters.

Democrats, hoping to reclaim an issue central to their success in past elections, said they would try to block the 17.4 percent increase that will come out of Social Security checks next year.

This is "Mediscare" all over again. Anyplace there are old people like me the discussion is on the 20% (actually 17%)increase in Part B premiums. Since my crowd has a number of the more fortunate (anyone with a 6 digit income before taxes) one would expect some judgement and forbearance.

This is not the case! For some reason my generation and those older believe they are being screwed royally and must somehow recover damages from the government and especially the Pubbies and the President.

When I tell them, there increase is $11-12 a month and that this increase was set into law in that the Administrator of Medicare must see to it that 25% of the anticipated costs are to be paid by premiums they are shocked, shocked and shocked. Actually, when I also tell them this is lower than previously and all the RAT senators including Kerry voted for this in 1997. I also tell them, if they ever do go broke, they can have Medicaid pay the whole freight. I finally tell them that the President does not set this increase and once the law is passed has no choice but to enforce it.

Medicare is the greatest gift to a special interest group in the history of the world. Making young people pay 75% of our outpatient health care costs is outrageous. I fondly remember Bob Dole's "Senior Care" proposal that melded private and public funds. It was soundly defeated and generations of RATS found it easy to run on SS and Medicare. Once they found an easy way to be employed the RINOS followed.

When costs were controlled in the 90's the premium for Part B actually fell! Soon, however, the RATS and the RINOS caved into providers and boosted fees and charges such that we entered a period of rapid medical cost inflation beginning in 2000.

Somehow, someone must speak for the Pubbies and the President and make the issues clear. I know my view that this should be more of a burden for the recipients of Medicare will not politally sail, but we are foundering on a reef of escalating costs and the whole ship is apt to go down.

I had a call from a poll group for the DNC (I could tell by his questions) and after seeing who I would vote for in the local election he asked which issue I was most interested in first of economy, education, health care, and or taxes. I told him, none of the above. I said my main interest was the security of our country. He seemed surprised and asked why I thought that. I replied that none of those things would be at issue if we lost our security and faced terrorism in the streets and our homes. He amazing asked me " Are you liable to change your mind before the election?" It blew me away!

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