ST. PAUL, Minn. — On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare into law, giving “free care” to 19 million seniors who’d never paid into the Medicare Trust Fund. Nearly six decades later, the program is drowning in financial instability, dissatisfied doctors, and improper payments. There’s also a troubling tilt toward profiteering led by health plans that are upcoding diagnoses and denying access to care.
Today, 67.2 million Americans rely on Medicare, yet its future hangs in the balance.
On Medicare’s 59th anniversary, Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) is calling on Congress to give seniors the right to opt out of this failing program – without losing their rightful Social Security benefits. Thus, CCHF is calling on Congress to pass the Retirement Freedom Act.
One of the most critical concerns is the looming insolvency of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, which is projected to be depleted by 2036. Without significant legislative intervention and financial infusion, Medicare’s ability to provide essential services is in jeopardy. Skyrocketing costs, driven by an aging population, and the escalating prices of medical services and technology due to industry consolidation, have pushed the program to the brink of collapse.
Fraud within Medicare also remains a persistent problem. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported $51.1 billion in improper payments in 2023 alone.
The complexity and inefficiency of the Medicare system have created substantial barriers for beneficiaries. The introduction of Medicare Advantage plans, intended as a cost-effective alternative to traditional Medicare, has instead resulted in numerous complications and higher expenses for enrollees. These plans also often restrict access to care and impose significant out-of-pocket costs, undermining the very purpose of Medicare.
“Medicare is a Ponzi scheme. Unlike those who got in early, those who’ve paid Medicare taxes their entire working life will find it more difficult to access needed care as Medicare dissolves into insolvency – leaving them with nowhere else to go for care or coverage,” says Twila Brase, RN, PHN, President and Co-founder of CCHF. “Citizens need an escape hatch from Medicare. The young and the not yet dependent need access to real health insurance, the affordable major medical policies that pay patients directly for insurable events,” adds Brase.
As part of a commitment to health freedom, CCHF launched The Wedge of Health Freedom, an online network of practices that maintain transparent cash-based pricing and true patient privacy. Wedge practices are free from the bureaucratic burdens of government reporting and outside interference, allowing doctors to put their patients first.
“CCHF is calling on policymakers to act decisively to save Americans from the searing impact of a total Medicare meltdown. Congress must restore the constitutional right to opt out of Medicare without losing access to Social Security benefits. All citizens of all ages must be given the right to buy real health insurance that will not ration their lives away as federal budgets tighten and Medicare goes bankrupt.” adds Brase.
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