Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-05-24
Medical Care Now
Much More Costly

Modern medical care costs
money. Ii was a lot cheaper
to let an older person die
quietly in his bed at home In
the good old days than 1t is
now to use a modern surgi-
cal technique that may add
Is years or more to his life.
Hospital costs have more than
doubled since 1850 from
$15.62 a day, to about $35 a day
now. And they have not yet
reached the peak.
The level of social security
benefits now payable does not
take into account the rapid rise
in medical and hospital costs
that has taken place in just the
past few years, and even if it
did, a money benefit is not the
answer the frequency, dura-
ton, and seriousness of the ILL
nesses that will strike the in
dividual elderly person is not
practicable. The logical means
of meeting the needs of the in
dividual and of the group is
through the use of social in
surance.
Younger people can get some
form of disqualification insur-
ance where they work. But it
is next to impossible for an old
er, retired person to get ade-
quate private health insurance
protection at premiums he can
afford to pay. Nor can private
insurance companies afford to
issue policies to many people
who are already in i'll health
when they reach IS. People up
in their 70's, 80's, and COS, older
people living on marginal in.
comes, and those in i'll health =
the poorest risks and the least
able to pay for protection -
present an impossible problem
for private insurance.
President Kennedy has recon-
mended the enactment under
our social security system of a
program of health insurance for
the aged. This program, al
though specifically limited to
the aged, will benefit every
generation now living - and
the generations to come.
BY paying 81 a month more
in social security tax contribu-
tons the worker with average
earnings would be able to pro-
vide for health care needs in
his own old age, relieving his
children of that possible future
burden. At the same time, in
most instances he would be pro-
viding for the health care needs
of his mother and father and
other elderly relatives.
Spread over the present
work force OF 20 million now
contributing to social secur-
ity, the costs individually are
small. Judging from the re-
Spouse to the recommends
ton, the majority of work.
ers. whether in their eos or
their eos are willing to pay
these costs.
In the matter of the health
of our Nation, this is the most
important and urgent piece Of
unfinished business before us.
There has been opposition to
this proposal on the part of GER
tain organized groups. How
ever, no responsible person, or
responsible organization, has
said that there is no need -
that some action is not neces-
sary - and necessary now.
The difference of opinion is
about how the problem shall
be met - whether our elderly
people are to get the medical
care they need before or after
their last cent, their dignity,
and their chance of recovery
is gone whether the more
expensive costs of illness in old
age should be paid through our
contributory social security sys.
tenn - or whether an ever
growing number of the aged
must be taken care of as "char-
ity" cases, requiring annual APP
preparations from the general
revenues of the State and Fed
eral Governments - from prop.
erty, sales, and income taxes -
whatever may be left over aft
er the other needs of Govern
ment are met.