8mm
Posted on 10/10/2007 4:18:27 PM PDT by wagglebee
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the Senate are headed back to Capitol Hill next week and a battle over Medicare rationing will be on the front burner. One leading pro-life group has been lobbying Congress to prevent the denial of lifesaving medical treatment by refusing to allow seniors to supplement their health care.
The National Right to Life considers government-imposed denial of lifesaving medical care a form of involuntary euthanasia.
Since Medicare is mandatory health insurance for older Americans, the government must not limit the ability of senior citizens to use their own money, the group contends, if they want to get unrationed insurance for lifesaving medical treatment under Medicare.
Despite the concerns, Democrats, and some Republicans, in the Senate appear ready to propose cuts in the private Medicare Advantage program NRLC supports. The pro-life group was instrumental in creating the plan in the 1990s to help those who may face treatment cuts.
The pro-life group has warned senators that it will score any vote on the Medicare program in its roll call of pro-life votes because it opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia just as much as it opposes abortion.
Burke Balch, director of the National Right to Life Committee’s center for medical ethics, told The Hill that the group will stand on principle even though some key lawmakers who oppose abortion may ruin their perfect voting records with the group.
“We are a single-issue organization,” he said. “No issue is more important than this because, as we see it, the lives of literally millions of people are at stake here.”
The group further explains its opposition to cuts in the program on its web site.
"In order to protect senior citizens’ lives, we must ensure their right to get unrationed medical care under Medicare," NRLC says. "We must not prohibit older Americans from adding their own money, if they wish, to get unrationed insurance – which only the private fee-for-service alternative gives them."
The group talks about upcoming problems for Medicare with the retiring baby boomer generation and says "government payments per beneficiary will not be able to keep up with medical inflation."
"If the funds available for health care for senior citizens from all sources are so limited, the only possible result will be rationing," it explains. "Since senior citizens are required to participate in Medicare, this would amount to government-imposed involuntary euthanasia [without maintaining the private Medicare Advantage program]."
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Not to worry........it’s just the first step to “Health Care Rationing”. This should tell you where they’re heading.
The National Right to Life considers government-imposed denial of lifesaving medical care a form of involuntary euthanasia.
***I can see that. What I can’t see is why seniors aren’t allowed to supplement their care. It doesn’t make sense.
“by refusing to allow seniors to supplement their health care.”
Beyond shocking.
I heard that’s what they do/did in Canada.
“What I can’t see is why seniors aren’t allowed to supplement their care. It doesn’t make sense.”
Maybe they don’t want sick seniors to live.
wow, what a story... socialized medicine is on the way and social conservatives, at least these ones, appear to be helping it right along.
Puzzled. Please explain what you mean. Do you mean the NLRC is supporting socialized medicine?
well, unless I’m reading this story wrong, the NLRC are opposing cuts/reductions in Medicare, a socialized medical program.
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"In order to protect senior citizens’ lives, we must ensure their right to get unrationed medical care under Medicare," NRLC says. "We must not prohibit older Americans from adding their own money, if they wish, to get unrationed insurance – which only the private fee-for-service alternative gives them."
I think they’re supporting seniors’ right to purchase their own medical services with their own money.
Social conservatives are nothing more than democrats from the 60’s.
I'm a social conservative and I supported Goldwater/Miller in the 60's. Never been a Democrat.
--No one is "forced" to participate in Medicare. When a person has received Social Security or Social Security Disability for 2 years, they then have the *option* to receive Medicare. If you don't want it, you can opt out.
--No one is prevented from supplementing their Medicare coverage with other insurance. You just have to indicate whether Medicare or the supplemental coverage is to be your primary payer.
At least this was the case when I began receiving Medicare a few years ago. For several years I had Medicare plus insurance through my wife's work. This article seems to be all shook up over nothing.
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