The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-03-25
By Social Security Department,
AFL-CIO

etIt from the Forand Bill, which
would pay the costs of so days of
hospital care, additional skilled
nursing care, and surgical benefits.
A. Thirteen million men and women
would get, lifetime protection-all
those eligible for old-age benefits
under Social Security. The railroad
unions want Railroad Retirement
beneficiaries to be included too.
B. Old people not entitled to old
Age benefits, if they have to turn
to public assistance would be helped
indirectly. Since a smaller number
would be forced to seek such aid,
each one could be given more ade-
quate assistance from the limited
funds available to welfare agencies.
2. Young workers would also
gain.
A. Their aged parents would be
protected at once-they and their
families would have similar protec-
ton on retirement or if the wage
Garner dies leaving young children.
B. The most any employed person
would have to contribute in the early
years would be 81 month or $23c
q week " % of earnings up to
$4,000. For farmers and other self
employed people, the maximum con-
tribution would be 35c week.
3. Few persons over age IS have
or can afford good health insurance
protection through any other
means.
A. Only 2 out of have any such
protection according to the latest
government figures.
B. Much of that is inadequate. 1t
IAN be cancelled; it has lifetime cell
ngs; it is very costly.
c. The best-known policies cost
$3.50 or $3.50 month per person
md pay only part, perhaps not even
lalf, of hospital costs for up to only
4 days.
4. Claims that voluntary insur-
ance will grow rapidly are unscien-
tific propaganda.
A. No. figures have been released
o support assertions that special poll
les for the aged are selling we'll.
B. Claims that a much higher pro-
ortion of older people will be COW
red in five years have no substance.
hey Cd include almost worthless
lans: (2) add alleged gains since
957, still improved; CD disregard
erious obstacles to continued pur- .
base and growth.
S. The Forand Bill would
pitfalls and Blue Cross.
A. 1t would relieve them of the
igh-cost load of the aged. Many hos
itals have large and growing deficits.
lue Gross keeps raising rates, partly
ecause it includes retired people
ithout charging them more than the
immunity rate. AS a result, Blue
ross is increasingly threatened by
,mpetition from commercial insur-
ice.
B. Public welfare agencies now
END $500 million a year for health
re for the aged. In many commu-
ties a large part of all old-age as
stance costs are for medical care,
nich is an ever-growing burden.
G.. A dependable system of financ-
g health costs of the aged, such as
,uld be provided through the Social
curity system, would help these
agencies to improve and
tend their services. High-quality,
illed nursing homes would be as
red of revenues. A speedy return
independence and home scare could
stressd.
6. The cost would be moderate.
A. The cost would be only about
billion the first year, according
the Secretary of Health, Educa-
n and Welfare. The higher esti-
tie used by the insurance industry
d its doctor allies reflects the ex-
nsive practices of commercial in II
rance and is highly exaggerated, as !
government report shows.
z. The new benefits can be FL
anced on a sound basis, through
,e Social Security payroll tax, but
ithout endangering present cash
enefits.
Even the long range cost estimate
+lo Co,ro+o,-1r Of Hao1tb E6y1oo III