THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 6, 1996 TAG: 9602060006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
I am not in politics, health care or health insurance. I am over 65 years of age and enrolled in Medicare insurance Parts A & B. Having been a senior for quite a few years, I feel qualified to try to explain to our politicians and legislators just what ``old folks'' want in their health-care-insurance reform.
No. 1. We do not want HMOs! That is for younger folk. Many of the HMOs do not even carry out-patient prescription coverage. We would like to see Medicare Part A stay as it is and Medicare Part B also unchanged, with a little raise in premiums to cover higher costs if necessary.
Then it would be nice if a Medicare Part C were implemented. This would cost a little more than Part B, but would cover prescription drugs (with a fairly nominal deductible).
Then we can have Medicare Part D. Part D would add dental and glasses coverage and would cost higher than A, B or C and also carry a fair deductible.
If possible, there should be Medicare Part E, which would help to cover long-term care, with a deductible amount to be established.
In this way we have whatever the Medicare participant wants or can afford. Some would want or be able to afford perhaps only A & B, or all phases up to C, D or E. We who are the Medicare recipients could then have a choice.
MADELINE NEVALA
Virginia Beach, Jan. 20, 1996 by CNB