Birth control and women’s health “As part of the ACA … many insurance plans will be required to fully cover birth control without copays or deductibles as part of women’s preventive care. This step will help more women make health care decisions based on what’s best for them—not their insurance company—and could save them hundreds of dollars every year. “Certain religious organizations, including churches, “Because of the will be exempt from the rules, and other religious organizanew law, 34 million tions will not have to pay for Americans will their insurers to cover birth gain [health care] control. “Thanks to unprecedentcoverage.” ed new guidelines in the ACA, women will have access to a wide range of preventive health services—mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and birth control—without a copay or deductible. The Affordable Care Act will also prevent insurance companies from discriminating against women so that being a woman is no longer considered a pre-existing condition.” The future of Medicare [From the President’s weekly address, Aug. 25] “Thanks to the health care law we passed, nearly 5.4 million seniors with Medicare have saved over $4.1 billion on prescription drugs. That’s an average of more than $700 per person. And this year alone, 18 million seniors with Medicare have taken advantage of preventive care benefits like mammograms or other cancer screenings that now come at no extra cost. “Growing up as the son of a single mother, I was raised with the help of my grandparents. I saw how important things like Medicare and Social Security were in their lives. And I saw the peace of mind it gave them. That’s why, as President, my goal has been to strengthen these programs now, and preserve them for future generations. “That’s why, as part of the Affordable Care Act, we gave seniors deeper discounts on prescription drugs, and made sure preventive care like mammograms are free without a copay. We’ve extended the life of Medicare by almost a decade. And I’ve proposed reforms that will save Medicare money by getting rid of wasteful spending in the health care system and reining in insurance companies—reforms that won’t touch your guaranteed Medicare benefits. “Republicans in Congress have put forward a very different plan. They want to turn Medicare into a voucher program. That means that instead of being guaranteed Medicare, seniors would get a voucher to buy insurance, but it wouldn’t keep up with costs. As a result, one plan would force seniors to pay an extra $6,400 a year for the same benefits they get now. And it would effectively end Medicare as we know it.” “I’m willing to work with anyone to keep improving the current system, but I refuse to do anything that undermines the basic idea of Medicare as a guarantee for seniors who get sick.”
funds to be used for insurance premiums; and promote ‘co-insurance’ products.” Abortion and women’s health “Mitt believes that life begins at conception and wishes that the laws of our nation reflected that view. But while the nation remains so divided, he believes that the right next step is for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade—a case of blatant judicial activism that took a decision that should be left to the people and placed it in the hands of unelected judges. “With Roe overturned, states will be empowered through the democratic process to determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate. “Mitt supports the Hyde Amendment, which broadly bars the use of federal funds for abortions. As president, he will end federal funding for abortion advocates like Planned Parenthood. He will protect the right of health care workers to follow their conscience in their work. And he will nominate judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the law.”
“Competition
Free market reforms drives improvements “Competition drives improvements in efficiency and effecin efficiency and tiveness, offering consumers effectiveness.” higher quality goods and services at lower cost. It can have the same effect in the health care system, if given the chance to work.” The Romney campaign says other steps to improve the free market for health care include: capping non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits; empowering individuals and small businesses to form purchasing pools; preventing discrimination against individuals with preexisting conditions who maintain continuous coverage; and improving medical information technology systems. The future of Medicare “President Obama has had three years in office, during which time he has attacked every serious proposal to preserve and strengthen America’s entitlement programs while enacting cuts to Medicare and putting in place a bureaucratic board that one day may ration the care available through the program. “Mitt Romney … proposes that tomorrow’s Medicare should give beneficiaries a generous defined contribution, or ‘premium support,’ and allow them to choose between private plans and traditional Medicare. “Mitt’s plan honors commitments to current seniors while giving the next generation an improved program that offers the freedom to choose what their coverage under Medicare should look like. Instead of paying providers directly for medical services, the government’s role will be to help future seniors pay for an insurance option that provides coverage at least as good as today’s Medicare, and to offer traditional Medicare as one of the insurance options that seniors can choose. “With insurers competing against each other to provide the best value to customers, efficiency and quality will improve and costs will decline. Seniors will be allowed to keep the savings from less expensive options or choose to pay more for costlier plans.”
OCTOBER 2012
MINNESOTA PHYSICIAN
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