Democrats Spooking Seniors With Mediscare Propaganda

Democrats and their leader President Obama are trotting out their favorite scare tactic in a likely preview of what their campaign platform will be in 2012.  In interviews, political ads and speeches, the party is trying to spook seniors by claiming Republicans are intent on taking away their Medicare. 

The mainstream news media has trumpeted the party's contentious accusation without challenging its veracity.  This is a troublesome development because unfortunately surveys have shown that most seniors rely on network television news for their information on issues.

That's why it is crucial for Republicans to set the record straight.  The truth is that Medicare's fund will be bankrupt by 2024, according to the government program's own trustees.  That means seniors will have no government health care unless lawmakers act to fix the plan.

Even that gloomy outlook may be wildly optimistic.  The trustees arrived at their estimate by using billions of dollars in projected savings under Obama Care to maintain fund solvency.  Medicare's own chief actuary Richard Foster questioned those conclusions.  Most health care experts believe the trustees' savings estimates are grossly overstated. 

Without those as yet unrealized savings, the trustees admit that the Medicare fund will run out of money in 2016, a scant five years from now.  Absent reform of the program, the nation faces soaring deficits to continue funding at levels that will keep pace with rising health care costs.

Instead of tackling the issue head on, President Obama and his party have maintained that their monstrous health care bill will improve Medicare's finances.  However, the only reason for their position is the 165 changes embedded in Obama Care aimed at deep cuts in health care spending for seniors and the disabled.

That fact has not been widely reported in the media.  The dirty little secret is that the average amount of benefits for seniors and the disabled will be decreased under the President's health care bill.  The law creates a plethora of mechanisms for trimming Medicare payments to hospitals and doctors.

In anticipation of those provisions, many doctors are no longer accepting Medicare, including as many as 30,000 in Texas alone.  That means there will be fewer doctors to treat seniors.  The quality of care is bound to suffer as seniors are forced to find less desirable care alternatives.

Democrats know that Medicare is on life support.  As of this year, Medicare's long-term unfunded liability is a whopping $24.8 trillion, according to an recent analysis by USA Today.  Medicare assumed another $1.8 trillion in new liabilities in just the past year.  Those deficits are forecast to grow every year for the foreseeable future. 

Unfunded liability is one of those mumbo jumbo government terms few understand.  What it means is there is not enough money in the Medicare trust fund to pay for future benefits.   The fund gets its money from Medicare taxes on workers and premiums paid by recipients.  Taxpayers are on the hook for the gap that exists between dollars in the Medicare trust fund and the expenses for benefits. 

Republicans have an opportunity to turn around the whole debate on Medicare by exposing Obama Care's government-run plan for rationed care for seniors and the disabled.  The evidence is contained in the so-called Affordable Health Care Act, which puts at risk medical care standards seniors value.

Republicans need to make the case that seniors will be far worse off with Obama Care than under any scheme proposed by the GOP.  Forcing Democrats to defend the indefensible might even tempt the party's leaders to join hands with Republicans in forging a budget deal that addresses the issue.     

Once seniors understand the deep cuts envisioned under Obama Care, they will be more willing to embrace the Republican plan for reducing deficits and reigning in health care spending without government meddling in decisions best left to patients and their families.

With millions of Baby Boomers beginning to qualify for Medicare, neither political party can afford to turn a blind eye toward dealing with a looming crisis that threatens our nation's solvency and jeopardizes health care for seniors and the disabled.