Medicare’s Anniversary Marked with Caution

Two groups used the 47th anniversary of Medicare Monday to alert the elderly in Wisconsin to proposed changes that would affect the government health care program. The lunchtime presentation at the Madison Senior Center was one of four statewide celebrations of Medicare’s longevity.

About 25 seniors listened as Billy Feitlinger from the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans explained that Medicare would change if federal health reform is repealed.

He said colonoscopies wouldn’t be covered and prescription drug costs would rise for some. Without mentioning political affiliation of those proposing to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, Feitlinger encouraged the elderly to contact their lawmakers on this issue. “So some people in Congress want to repeal it,” he said. “You have a responsibility, Congress, if you want to repeal it the Affordable Care Act, to tell with what we want to replace it. “

In addition, paying for Medicare could change. Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan has proposed replacing Medicare with vouchers to buy private insurance. Seventy-year-old Gene Wells of Madison doesn’t’ t like this idea. “I don’t think the voucher is enough to pay for health care,” he sayd. “I think it should be provided under Medicare for senior citizens.”

The Medicare briefings were held in in Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison. They were put on by the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans and Know Your Care Wisconsin.