Evening star., 1960-08-28
Care for Aqed

In regard to medical care
for the aged, there seems to
be one facet entirely over
looked. and has been since
group disqualification plans
were first introduced. No
provision has ever been made
by private industry or the
Federal Government to allow
those of its employees known
as "heads of households" to
enroll their dependent par
ents in any group hospitaliza-
ton plan. The same applies
to those supporting tncapaci-
tated brothers and sisters
living under the same roof.
Yet, on the other hand,
working married woman is
allowed to enroll her aged or
sick husband as a dependent
in group medical plans.
Those of us who have elderly
dependents have until the
last few years, been unable
to insure them as individuals
in private plans either be-
cause of their age or par
ticular type of ailment. Now
that medical plans are avail
able for senior citizens" the
premiums are so prohibitive
for only fairly adequate pro-
lection, that many of us
simply cannot afford them
with all the other essential
policies that are hung around
our necks. A person with a
low income (under $4,000
gross) has got to draw the
line somewhere-but where?
If there is no protection
for the aged ones. what then?
Must they go on charity or
have their life's savings wiped
out in the case of critical or
prolonged illness?
If industry and Govern
ment had long ago included
the dependents, discussed
here, in group disqualification,
a considerable percentage Of
the aged would now be COW
cred through their families.
and the pressing need for
disqualification prot e C t ion
which has now come to light.
would have been averted to
a large extent.
Observer.
As a firm believer in the
free enterprise system being
the best way to develop and
to run the country, I whole
heartedly agree with the
American Medical Associa-
tion's stand in helping only
those older citizens who need
help-the assistance to be
handled by a local-adminis-
tered plan through a Federal
grant-in-aid.
A medical aged plan tied
to social security would be
the first step toward social
lied medicine. Senator Ken
nedy favors the social secur-
ity plan and has boldly
claimed a very important re-
sponsibility is to finish the
welfare plan begun by PreSi-
dent F. D. Roosevelt.
Who wants to be a pup
pet? The Federal Government
could and would control an
individuals decision by tell
ing him what doctor and hos
pital to go to. Just a little
more precious freedom lost.
Also. the social security
plan would place the aged
medical coverage on a CON-
pulsory rather than a volun-
teer basis and place an insur-
mountable drain on the
working people to maintain
Armistead Thompson.
" 4 x
AS a registered nurse,
understand we'll the Ameri.
can Medical Associations op.
position to Federal-Supportee
care for the aged. However
after receiving a first hanc
view of some of our senior
citizens dying by procrasti.
mated lack of attention rather
than declare themselves in
digent, (For many, their prid'
is all they haveD I am op'
posed to the A.M.A.'s opposi'
ton.
ANA. contends that Whe1
the Government begins tt
supervise doctors and nurse
in the care of the patient
quality of medical care is SUR
to decline. 1 do not agree
from my observation. militar,
care is certainly not inferio
to that of civilian. If ther
is controversy upon the mat
ter, consider that the militar,
MD. is not totally independ
ent, such as his civilian coun
terpart.
We who would financ