Letter: Medicare changes kill more than guns

I read with interest your article in the Dec. 20 Advocate regarding President Barack Obama’s appointment of Vice President Joe Biden as leader of a group to investigate possibly stricter rules for gun control. I guess this is a valiant effort, but in my opinion it will accomplish little in the saving of lives.

Also of interest were the articles on Medicare fraud and the one entitled, “Medicare patients warned of drastic cuts loomng Jan. 1.”

These two articles, along with the one regarding a senior citizen who just made 65 and was then able to afford a triple bypass that saved his life really got my attention.

Medicare fraud has been rampant for years, and Washington has known it. It has had a significant impact on the budget and it is promoting serious impacts in increased co-pays and reduced coverage in general.

In my opinion, these medical issues will result in the deaths of more people than gun violence.

But I see nothing regarding Washington’s attack on these issues. Why not?

Rudy Begault

retired engineer

Metairie

Comments

1) Comment by DMJ - 30/12/2012

Both sides accuse the other side of trying to cut Medicare. Whom to believe? Just an idea...but I think the side to trust is not the political party that's been opposed to Medicare since Ronald Reagan was a pitchman against it in the 60s.

2) Comment by Whatnow - 30/12/2012

Twinkie1cat, did you not even notice the fraud in those films? No one is saying take away their one cell phone, but I guess if certain people abuse it, it's okay."Medicare fraud would not be rampant if the Republicans had not let the health care and insurance companies run amok". I guess Republicans are the only politicians in Washington who has control over that. Right? Sure.....

3) Comment by Whatnow - 30/12/2012

If Medicare, Medicaid, Freddie and Fanny, free cell phone programs and food stamps programs are so badly abused and the government can't reign in the fraud what makes you think the government can control the fraud that WILL come with Obamacare? They can't even make a budget and control their own spending. Just spend, spend, spend or print more and disregard the fraud and keep the voting pools happy. They'll just pass the higher taxes it takes down the road to the taxpayers and their kids, grandkids, etc. Put it on the taxpayers. They have more, right?? But, don't forget to vote for the guy who will give you all those "freebies"!!!

4) Comment by Whatnow - 30/12/2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvoZ9JLEMoY TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTYiKjFnMos twinkie1cat, I guess all these people are Republicans.

5) Comment by twinkie1cat - 29/12/2012

Medicare fraud would not be rampant if the Republicans had not let the health care and insurance companies run amok.

6) Comment by twinkie1cat - 29/12/2012

If you are worried about Medicare cuts, be sure to get a Medicare Advantage program such as People's Health. They cover some things that Medicare does not and provide managed care that will probably protect you from the Republicans' cuts.

7) Comment by twinkie1cat - 29/12/2012

What is y'all's problem with the free cell phones. If a person is homeless they are not going to be able to have a landline phone. Therefore they will be hard pressed to get a job and become a homed, taxpaying, working person. The same goes for a person on welfare. How are you going to get a job nowadays without a telephone? Before cell phones became popular homeless people could get a voicemail box through one of the large homeless ministries in Atlanta. Many were able to get jobs that way. Now if you have a cell phone you answer it yourself and if they want you to come for an interview you arrange the time and place, go get cleaned up and get a job. The boss never has to know you are homeless so you make a better impression. The "free" phones are an excellent innovation and anyway, have you ever been stranded with no cell phone nowadays? Car broke down? Just try to find a pay phone. Homelessness and unemployment do not have to be permanent conditions if you can get a hand up that includes perhaps a small handout. Homeless this year, employed next year, good paying job the year after. It does happen.

8) Comment by twinkie1cat - 29/12/2012

Medicare fraud is one of the reasons we need Obamacare so that everyone can get the medical care they need. The insurance and health care product suppliers should be closely regulated because they are for-profit businesses and if they cheat they can get more profits.

9) Comment by Whatnow - 29/12/2012

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTYiKjFnMos) Who gave Obama the glory? Everything the government runs turns to fraud and deception and the taxpayers get the bill. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTYiKjFnMos) From the mouths of the frauds.

10) Comment by gary - 29/12/2012

But, but .....Tea_Slayer the great Ron Reagan was president then - no way ole Dutch would allow somethin' like subsidies for phone service for the poor. The Tea Party folks wouldn't like ole Dutch.

11) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 29/12/2012

The truth about the "free cellphones" and how they are paid for. Hint: the program to provide subsidies to the poor for phone service began in 1984. -- http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/cellphone.asp

12) Comment by [e-mail] - 29/12/2012

It's all part of the grand scheme I guess. The problem is that "A billion here and a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money.' It's not the politicians money being wasted, so what do they really care? It's so easy to mouth platitudes for public consumption while they take stolen donated dollars.

13) Comment by Bighug - 29/12/2012

Deep Throat had the answer to most of these questions: "Follow the money."

14) Comment by tradewinns - 29/12/2012

medicare fraud is not a priority for congress because it will not bring in more money for them to spend. if the fraud was chased and the defrauders punished severely (no slap on wrist, back to business) then we'd see a drastic change. as an example of what i'm saying: the now common place passing out free cell phones to welfare and the homeless, this has exceeded $1 BILLION a year. a total waste made public by the media. since the exposure, do you know how many bills have been passed to curb this abuse? NONE! time to demand accountability from our congress. if necessary replace them all.