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A debate on whether society is obligated to provide health care for all was one of the topics aired Saturday at a forum hosted by the local chapter of the AARP.
AARP members and a registered nurse spoke to about 20 attendees gathered at Mercy Medical Center's community education center to discuss the health care bill working its way through Congress and what it could mean to people in Douglas County. Organizers sought to dispel rumors surrounding the bill and to discuss possible outcomes of the legislation for people 50 and older.
Audience members, which included those expressing opinions for and against aspects of the bill, then asked questions and debated points in what was at times a contentious gathering. Subjects ranged from current and future Medicare provisions, death panels,” how systems in foreign countries are run and what it all means for private insurance companies.
“I was glad to see several view points represented,” said Molly Deem, a registered nurse at Rose Haven Nursing Center. “I think it was intellectual and more passionate than I was expecting.”
Bob Jaquette of Roseburg said he was in favor of health reform, supporting the poor population and doing away with denial based upon pre-existing conditions, but didn't see the need to do away with an entire system.
“My experience with Medicare has not been good,” Jaquette said, referring to the experiences of three family members being denied care at the end of their lives after their coverage ran out.
Therefore, he said, it was hard to support a plan without knowing the details and to be asked to write “a blank check” without knowing what is given in return.
Members of the audience suggested watching C-SPAN to get a better understanding of the bill's progress and to keep informed.
William Taylor of AARP told the audience nothing was yet “cut in stone” or settled fully at this time. He then urged Jaquette and the others to talk to their political representatives to help shape the bill in these formative days.
Taylor said he was personally in favor of a single-payer system, while AARP endorses the concepts discussed by lawmakers — keeping employer-based health care, closing gaps in Medicare, and cutting wasted funds out of the system.
Brochures created by AARP and passed out at the meeting state that “one in three Americans say someone in their family has skipped pills, postponed or cut back on needed medical care due to the cost … and the number of uninsured approaches 50 million. The fact is we can't afford not to fix health care.”
While no system is perfect, Taylor said, the United States is the only industrialized nation without universal health care.
Event organizer Kathleen A. Priem said she supports the reform and has had a good experience with Medicare. She said it was important not to let future decisions be affected by “anecdotal situations” of adverse experiences with Medicare.
“I have had 17 surgeries,” Preim said. “I have never had a Medicare person tell me or my doctor I couldn't have it done.”
Deem had suggestions for people to put in place as soon as possible, regardless of the outcome of a final bill. Having something in place ahead of time ensures that accurate care will be given in line with how people want to spend their final days, she said.
“Another way to empower yourselves is to discuss your wishes … with people who matter in your life,” she said. “Let them know what you want as you get to end of life, get it down on paper, make sure the important people in your life have copies of that piece of paper.”
• You can reach reporter Heather Morse at 957-4208 or by e-mail at hmorse@nrtoday.com.
AARP members and a registered nurse spoke to about 20 attendees gathered at Mercy Medical Center's community education center to discuss the health care bill working its way through Congress and what it could mean to people in Douglas County. Organizers sought to dispel rumors surrounding the bill and to discuss possible outcomes of the legislation for people 50 and older.
Audience members, which included those expressing opinions for and against aspects of the bill, then asked questions and debated points in what was at times a contentious gathering. Subjects ranged from current and future Medicare provisions, death panels,” how systems in foreign countries are run and what it all means for private insurance companies.
“I was glad to see several view points represented,” said Molly Deem, a registered nurse at Rose Haven Nursing Center. “I think it was intellectual and more passionate than I was expecting.”
Bob Jaquette of Roseburg said he was in favor of health reform, supporting the poor population and doing away with denial based upon pre-existing conditions, but didn't see the need to do away with an entire system.
“My experience with Medicare has not been good,” Jaquette said, referring to the experiences of three family members being denied care at the end of their lives after their coverage ran out.
Therefore, he said, it was hard to support a plan without knowing the details and to be asked to write “a blank check” without knowing what is given in return.
Members of the audience suggested watching C-SPAN to get a better understanding of the bill's progress and to keep informed.
William Taylor of AARP told the audience nothing was yet “cut in stone” or settled fully at this time. He then urged Jaquette and the others to talk to their political representatives to help shape the bill in these formative days.
Taylor said he was personally in favor of a single-payer system, while AARP endorses the concepts discussed by lawmakers — keeping employer-based health care, closing gaps in Medicare, and cutting wasted funds out of the system.
Brochures created by AARP and passed out at the meeting state that “one in three Americans say someone in their family has skipped pills, postponed or cut back on needed medical care due to the cost … and the number of uninsured approaches 50 million. The fact is we can't afford not to fix health care.”
While no system is perfect, Taylor said, the United States is the only industrialized nation without universal health care.
Event organizer Kathleen A. Priem said she supports the reform and has had a good experience with Medicare. She said it was important not to let future decisions be affected by “anecdotal situations” of adverse experiences with Medicare.
“I have had 17 surgeries,” Preim said. “I have never had a Medicare person tell me or my doctor I couldn't have it done.”
Deem had suggestions for people to put in place as soon as possible, regardless of the outcome of a final bill. Having something in place ahead of time ensures that accurate care will be given in line with how people want to spend their final days, she said.
“Another way to empower yourselves is to discuss your wishes … with people who matter in your life,” she said. “Let them know what you want as you get to end of life, get it down on paper, make sure the important people in your life have copies of that piece of paper.”
• You can reach reporter Heather Morse at 957-4208 or by e-mail at hmorse@nrtoday.com.
