The Medicare Cliff

Take a moment to imagine the shock and horror of 47,348,255 Medicare recipients receiving a registered letter on January 7th from their doctors.  The letter regrettably informs each of them that, due to their government’s failure to reverse the 27% reduction in physician reimbursement, they have 90 days to find a new doctor.  The letter further states that after 90 days, they could remain with their current doctor, after signing a contract that clearly states Medicare would not pay for any medical care they receive in their doctor’s office.  In other words, they would receive medical care on a cash only basis.

Their first emotion will be one of shock.  How could this happen?  How could their doctors abandon them?  How could their government abandon them?  Next comes the horror of trying to find a new doc who accepts Medicare.  Unfortunately, very few docs will be able to tolerate what amounts to a special tax on the medical profession and, if they are lucky enough to find a new doc, the first available appointment is likely to be in 2014.

Finally, anger sets in.  Those greedy docs!  They get paid too much as is!  All they are interested in is the money!  Yes, the anger will be aimed at my profession, not at those congressional leaders who get paid to misappropriate our taxes, fail to fix broken laws year after year, and vie for headlines while campaigning for re-election.

Shock, Horror, Anger:  that’s what I’m feeling right now!  I’m the guy who is going to have to send out that letter.  I know that many of my Medicare patients can’t afford to pay cash for their medical care.  I also know that my overhead has risen steadily over the years and I can’t keep my doors open if I accept a 27% hit!  If I bankrupt, all of my patients will have to find other docs.  If I bankrupt, my profession will surely bankrupt as well!

So, what happens if we fall off this fiscal cliff is not simply that the average American will take a $4,000 tax hit.  What happens is that our healthcare system will collapse.  People will lose all access to care.  Emergency rooms across the country will be overrun by the sick and injured.  Hospitals will shutter their doors.  President Obama will declare a state of emergency.

Nationalized/universal healthcare will be instituted.  I will be conscripted into service or retire at much too young an age.  President Obama will be a hero.  After all, he will ultimately be responsible for ending the crisis, won’t he?

Shock, Horror, Anger.  No, he won’t be a hero!  He will be the villain whose careful plans set it all in motion.  Could it be that falling off the fiscal cliff is the final step in taking away our freedom?  While the above scenario would make for a great novel, it makes for a shocking, and horrible reality.

Fiction or reality?  Stay tuned as the drama plays out over the next few weeks.

Please email this to your friends and loved ones who are on Medicare.  Please call your Congressmen, Senators and President and make sure this scenario never becomes reality!

posted at www.livewellthy.org