Posted on August 26th, 2010
According to a recent article in the New York Times titled “12 Years Added to Medicare” there is still quite a bit of pressure on the Medicare program as a whole, and this problem is not simply the result of a down economy. Due to the aging population, health care costs continue to rise and the increase of the elderly population in the upcoming years will only add more strain.
What can be done? Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging, believes that seniors need the care they deserve. “Medicare needs to be a balanced program in order to provide efficient, effective health care to seniors who have created the tax revenues that pay for the program,” said Dolan. “Make sure to be your own advocate for the care you deserve.”
President Obama’s health care legislation program cuts almost a half-trillion dollars from Medicare spending over the next 10 years, but even with these cuts the program will still continue to face problems financially. As phrased in the article, these cuts are “based on the assumption that hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers will become more efficient, increasing their productivity to match productivity gains in the overall economy.” It is possible for Congress to override additional cuts in the future, but the trustees currently project that Medicare will remain financially solvent until 2029.
Regardless of what changes take place, make sure that you’re staying informed about how you will be affected to ensure that you’re getting the care that you need.
