Milford chronicle., 1960-08-12
OLD AGE HEALTH INSURANCE

pOlJlcal, economic ana Social OV0FIOnoS. IL
is possible, even likely, that Congress will
pass some kind of bill this year, during its
post-convention session. Failing that, action
next year is almost inevitable. Then, whether
Congress acts or not in the immediate future,
the issue will be extensively debated, and ad-
ditional legislation will be pushed.
The proposed solutions run wide gamut.
On the one hand, there is what is known as
Forand-type legislation. This would bring all
recipients of Social Security payments into
a system of gOvernment-paid medical, h0spi-
tai and nursing home benefits. The initial
cost is estimated at something like So billion
year; thereafter, as more and more people
joined the Social Security rolls, the cost
would steadily rise. Some think the ultimate
annual bill might be as much as $6 billion.
Another approach, proposed by the Ad-
ministration, would substitute voluntary for
compulsory action. However, this approach
is also based on the premise, as the Forand-
type approach, that almost everyone who is
over 65 is in need of health care but cannot
afford it.
Finally, there is third approach. It is
found in bill developed by Chairman Mills
of the House Ways and Means Committee,
which was passed by an overwhelming mar
gin by the House shortly before it recessed
for the conventions. 1t is distinct from the
other proposals in certain highly important
ways. 1t provides for a voluntary plan. 1t
is designed to help the actual needy, not just
everyone who has reached a given age. And,
of great significance, it lays heavy stress on
state, rather than only federal, authority and
responsibility,
This measure has been given the endorse
ment of the American Medical Association.
The president of the ANA recently went into
some detail as to what he and his organiza-
tion believes a sound health care for the aged
should do, and described the principles it
should be based on. One basic principle is
that needs of this nature are best served by
agencies situated as close as possible to the
individual Situations and problems may
vary widely from place to place, and local
agencies can respond more precisely and
promptly to local requirements.
Another principle emphasized by the
ANA is that help should be provided only
when help is needed. Great numbers of indi-
viduals who have passed 65 are perfectly
able to meet their own health needs. Surveys
indicate that this is true of a heavy majority.
The AMA's House of Delegates, in formal
resolution, said last June: Personal medical
care is primarily the responsibility of the in
dividual. When he is unable to provide this
care for himself, the responsibility should
properly pass to his family, the community,
the county, the state and, only when all of
these fail, to the Federal Government, and
then only in conjunction with the other levels
of government, in the above order. The
principle of freedom of choice should be pre-
served"
1t should be noted that great many COM
mentators, both within and without the medi-
cal profession, fear that compulsory federal
financing of health care for the aged, whe-
ther accomplished under Social Security or
in any other way, would be an entering
wedge to federal domination of all medical
care and, perhaps, to ultimate socialization
of medicine. The Mills bill, they believe
would do the job that is needed without run
ming this danger.
NO TIME TO WASTE
Citizens and taxpayers who are interested
in economy in government would do well
to make their views known-without delay
For, during the remaining life of this Con-
gress, the big-spenders are going to be ac-
tive.
They've made successful start already
in the top-heavy vote overriding the Presi-
dents veto of the federal pay raise bill. This
measure will add about $3.50 million year to
federal spending and will increase the post
office deficit to more than $3.50 million year
Much more of the same is in the works,
as the Chamber of Commerce of the United
States points out in report. For example,
a Senate aid-to-education bill would spend
$1.8 billion over two-year period, and a
House bill would provide S1.3 billion in four
years for classroom construction. Another
Senate bill would appropriate SIT billion for
a wide variety of subsidies, including urban
renewal, college housing and community fa-
cilities-a House bill would spend $1.4 bill
lion for similar purposes.
So it goes, down the list Of measures bas-
ed on e-government-d -do-everyt thing and
pay-for-everything attitude In a general
election year, the urge to spend and spend
and spend, in an effort to attract votes, is
powerful indeed 1t can be countered only if
the public votes against the big spenders and
for economical and efficient government.
1&%@N&
WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?
Suppose you earn $4,000 year, and put
in 40-hour week.
If that's your situation, said the Citizens
Public Expenditure Survey, you work all day
Monday and until :45 p m. Tuesday without