Getting the Truth Out to Seniors on Health Care Reform

Yesterday I had the chance to talk with hundreds of folks in Erie at a senior community fair, organized by State Representative John Hornaman. We shared a table with one of our great coalition partners, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans to help get the word out to seniors about the benefits of health reform. Not surprisingly, however, we found that some of the scariest themes relentlessly repeated by the multi-million dollar smear campaign (still being) waged by corporate front groups like Americans for Prosperity and Karl Rove’s new political action committee (PAC), Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS) had taken root with some seniors.

It’s sad that opponents of reform continue to resort to these kinds of ugly tactics to mislead, misinform and downright scare seniors but the good news is that people are hungry for the truth, and eager to embrace reform once they realize the over-the-top apocalyptic language about health reform is just a shallow attempt to maintain the unsustainable status quo on health care.

While I had many great conversations with folks about some of the benefits of reform for seniors, including free preventative services under Medicare and discounts in brand name prescription drugs, one conversation really stood out. A woman approached the table and hesitantly picked up some information on health reform. I greeted her and explained who the Pennsylvania Health Access Network was and how we were working to get the truth out about how seniors will benefit from reform. That’s when she said: “I heard that under health reform, people over 65 wouldn’t be able to get Medicare anymore.” I said, “No, ma’am, that’s crazy! Actually, reform does a lot to strengthen Medicare. All your guaranteed benefits will be exactly the same, and you can now get free preventative care, like an annual check-up and free screenings for certain types of cancers. By cutting out overpayments to private insurers and cracking down on fraud and abuse, reform actually keeps Medicare solvent for an additional 12 years.” I can’t tell you how relieved she was to know that Medicare wasn’t going anywhere. And I can’t tell you how continually mad I am that our seniors, folks like my grandparents, who worked their whole lives and are earnestly trying to wade through all the information to gain a clear understanding of the new law and its impact, are the perpetual targets of these types of lies. She said, “You mean there’s misinformation out there?” I said, “Unfortunately, yes. Too much of it, and that’s why we’re out here getting the truth to folks.”

She took my information, and asked that I come and speak to her social club that meets at a local senior center. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to it. If you’re interested in getting some friends together for an in-depth look at the new health care law, contact Erin Gill-Ninehouser in Western PA at egill@pahealthaccess.org or (412) 512-9225. With endlessly well-funded groups steadfast in their fear-and-smear campaign against health reform, getting the truth out in our communities is more important than ever. Let’s work together and keep moving forward for Pennsylvania’s seniors and working families.

AARP User's Guide to HCR.pdf