Ohio Retiree Leader Rebuts RNC’s False Health Care Claims

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OHIO ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS 395 E. Broad Street, Suite 300 ¨ Columbus, Ohio 43215 ¨ (614) 224-8271¨
www.ohioretiredamericans.org

For Immediate Release Contact: Norman Wernet

Date: 08/25/2009 (614) 271-4975


Ohio Retiree Leader Rebuts RNC’s False Health Care Claims


Seniors Outreach Contradicts Summer of Scare Tactics



The following statement was issued today by David Friesner, President of
the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans, in response to Republican
National Committee chair Michael Steele unveiling a so-called “Seniors’
Health Care Bill of Rights.”


“Yesterday’s insurance industry-backed public relations move by the RNC
is appalling not only for its gross distortions of public policy issues,
but also for its hypocrisy on the heels of high-profile GOP efforts to
scare and confuse American seniors about the health care debate.


“A ‘Bill of Rights’ for seniors should include the right to be told the
truth. The truth is retirees have a lot to gain from leading Democratic
proposals that would make it easier for them to see a doctor, get a
prescription filled, and afford long-term care.


“The Republicans’ newfound interest in protecting Medicare – after years
of voting to cut benefits and privatize the program – is to rein in
health care costs in a way proposed by President Obama. Curiously
silent from Chairman Steele’s support for the Medicare “advantage”
programs is the fact that every Medicare beneficiary must pay an
additional $3 per month in premiums to support egregious overpayments to
private insurance companies who use taxpayer subsidies to run these
programs at a cost 20 percent higher than if Medicare directly provided
these services.


“ In Ohio the public pension systems have opted for “advantage”
privatized Medicare as a way to save money and are notifying retirees
they have a year with their physician and then must find a “network
doctor” or pay the costs out of pocket. Privatized Medicare backed by
the likes of Mr Steele and Ohio Congressman Robert Latta has already
stepped between retirees and their choice of physicians and medical
providers, while grabbing profits in administrative fees from the
pension systems and Medicare’s funders, the US taxpayer.


“Also missing is how Democratic health care reform would help millions
of retirees better afford their prescription drug coverage. In addition
to providing greater assistance for low-income seniors, it would begin
closing the “doughnut hole” in Medicare Part D. Under this coverage
gap, Michael Steele’s friends in the insurance industry keep getting
their monthly premiums even when they are not giving seniors any
benefits. Nor does Steele mention how health insurance reform is a
chance to finally allow Medicare to negotiate for volume discounts with
the drug companies. Savvy seniors know you should pay less when you buy
in bulk.


“A true Bill of Rights for retirees would include an opportunity for
early retirees to buy-in to Medicare. Right now, there are over five
million Americans age 55-64 who do not have health insurance. Thousands
of older Ohio workers are now scrambling to find ways to keep health
insurance as shown in recent appeals by former Delphi salaried and
unionized employees caught in the play of corporate bankruptcy. Many of
them are out of work, and private insurance is outrageously expensive
($11,000-$50,00/yr in Ohio) for people in that age bracket. This is a
critical period for early detection and treatment of chronic, costly
conditions such as diabetes. Moreover, Democratic health care reform
would eliminate co-pays for retirees who wisely choose to have
preventive tests such as cancer screenings.


“Chairman Steele goes silent on why exactly his party and the insurance
industry do not support the CLASS Act provisions of health care reform,
an affordable public insurance program that will provide up to $100 a
day “Yesterday’s publicity stunt by the RNC belies weeks of leading
Republicans trying to scare seniors, and mislead them with lies and
predictions of doom. These scare tactics are false, but not enough
people know this, thanks to millions of dollars in television
advertising and disruptive behavior at town hall meetings. Just weeks
after resigning from public service, Sarah Palin wrote of “death panels”
when there clearly are none in these bills. Republican Representative
Ginny-Brown Waite, whose Florida district includes more Medicare
beneficiaries than any other, said that Washington’s message to seniors
was “Drop Dead.” Former party leader-turned lobbyist Dick Armey made
the ridiculous claim that it is “tyranny” that seniors are forced to be
in Medicare to receive benefits that would dramatically improve their
health and economic well-being.


“Not only is the Republican Party trying to use its falsely-named Bill
of Rights to enhance its scare tactics campaign, but they also ignore
the fact that seniors care about more than just their own generation.
Retirees are deeply concerned about their children and grandchildren in
these difficult times. They worry that at a time of sky-high premiums
and unfair rules against pre-existing conditions imposed by the
insurance industry, they would be unable to afford health coverage.”


Alliance activists in Ohio are available for interview by contacting
Norman Wernet at 614.271.4975 or nwernet@retiredamericans.org






##


The Alliance for Retired Americans is a grassroots organization
representing more than 230,000 retirees in Ohio and 3 million retirees
and seniors nationwide. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Alliance’s
mission is to advance public policy that protects the health and
economic security of older Americans by teaching seniors how to make a
difference through activism. Learn more about the Alliance and its work
at www.retiredamericans.org.