So now you’re a
card-carrying Boomer. No, I don’t mean the ubiquitous AARP cards that have been
populating your mailbox for years now. No, I mean your Medicare card, the one
for which you qualify at age 65.
This means that
you now are part of the entitlement crowd of which some Congress members speak
so scornfully. Although, if you’re like most of us you’ve been paying taxes for
this all your working life. You should be entitled.
But don’t think
that your life is one big gravy train now that you’re on Medicare. An example:
My 102-year-old
mother-in-law’s balance isn’t so good these days so her doctor prescribed a
walker – one of those tube-aluminum frames – to help her get around.
Medicare covers prescribed walkers, but only the stripped-down
model – the one with two wheels in front that must be slid or lifted to move
forward. Many people put tennis balls on the rear two legs to keep them from
scratching floors.
You want the
easier-to-use, four-wheel model? Medicare covers only part of that, and only if
you get the small-wheel type for indoor use only. You want bigger wheels
suitable for going outside to shop or smell the roses? You pay.
And do you want a
seat with that? Sure, but Medicare won’t pay for a padded model, just bare
metal. You want more cush for your tush? You pay.
Clearly, Medicare
isn’t paying for you to maintain the lavish lifestyle to which you’re
accustomed as a younger person. Getting old means getting less.
And now we hear
Congress bleating about needing to make more cuts to Medicare, which already is
bare-bones. Tell you what:
If those
hypocrites can’t give the elderly the same health-care perks that they give
themselves, they should just shut the (bleep) up.
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