Evening star., 1961-02-18
TO THE STAR
Varied Views of Health Care for Aged


the Social Security program
aims to help-thoSe living on
savings and fixed incomes.
Social Security taxes (and
they are taxes have been
increased periodically since
the inception Of the program.
as benefits were increased,
and as the number Of citizens
drawing benefits increased.
Even If no further benefits
are added, (and our new
President is currently ask
ing for q 80 per cent in
crease in the minimum
monthly payments), these
periodic increases will have to
continue due to the increased
number of our senior citizens
reaching retirement age. and
increased life expectancy.
A self-employed person is
required to pay so per cent
greater Social Security tax
for his own benefits than are
employed workers. He is re-
quired also to bear half Of
the cost of his employees
benefits. To avoid a creep
ing social welfare state. and
to bring about the ideal
situation where each indi-
vidual bears the cost Of his
own medical expenses, 1t
would seem that it is time to
stop increasing the employ
er's share for Social Security
benefits for his employees.
Fred b. Winkler.
It is we'll established that q
health care program is need
ed for our senior citizens.
People 65 and older spend
about twice as much time In
a hospital as people under
65. But, the income Of the
group IS and older is much
less than the group Of people
less than IS years Of age.
We do need a health care
program for many people
over 65, but not for all. 1
feel that only the people re-
quiring financial aid should
be covered under a health
care program set UP and fl
nanced by the Federal Gov
ernment.
II 4 million Of Is million
people over IS need money
for food, the American tax
payer would be glad to buy
their food. But, why should
you be forced to buy food for
all 16 million people over 65?
If medical care for the
aged is established under the
social security system, al
people IS and older covered
by social security would re-
ceive care, even though many
Of these people have no need
whatsoever for this kind Of
financial aid.
Also, what about the 21a
million people who need
medical care, but aren't un-
der social security? Why
should medical care be given
to the II million people COW
cred by social security,
many Of whom don't need
financial aid, and not bring
in the millions who need
such aid, but aren't covered
by social security? No one
would object to paying for
medical aid If there is a need,
but why should financial aid
be given to those who have
no need for 1t?
I am also curious as to who
will foot the bill for the II
million people over 65 (who
are covered by social securi-
ty> who have not and will
not ever pay into the social
security medical care fund,
but who will Immediately be
provided financial assistance
for medical care as long as
they live.
Social security is not in
surance, as some people seem
to think. The Supreme Court
refused to validate social Sc
curity as such. Rather, 1t was
validated as a welfare pro-
gram supported by taxation.
Some people are complain
ing that a person must sign
a statement which says that
his income Is below a certain
figure in order to obtain fl
nancial assistance for medi-
cal care under the Kerr-MillS
program which is now in ef-
feet. Our Government can
not give out the taxpayers
money without knowing that
it is needed and will be used
properly.
1t is my opinion that medi-
cal aid for the aged under
the social security system
is the wrong way of ap-
preaching the medical aid
problem. I feel that we
should give the Kerr-Mills
program q chance to work.
Bill Brimacombe