August 2009: I got a call the other day from a client who is 88 years old. He had received a mailing from friends in Georgia that was 11 pages of misinformation about President Obama’s health care/health insurance reform plans. My client, who has been enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan for many years, had read that these private Medicare plans would be eliminated, and he wondered what that would mean for him and his wife.
I talked to Cecil and his wife for 45 minutes, trying to assure them that their Medicare coverage will not be taken away. And I explained to them that Medicare is a government program (and a bit of a socialist program), but that they had a choice to be covered by a private Medicare plan (Medicare Advantage). We went round and round on this information as they did not want to believe that Medicare is government-run.
They had copied the materials for me and I did not look closely at them until I had left their house. As I read the 11 pages I was amused and distressed by the idiocy of the misinformation that was being circulated. It is funny and pathetic, but it is disgusting that my clients are being targeted by fear-mongering, anonymous groups that want to stop reform at any and all cost.
The authors of the pieces seemed to be the “Fairbanks Republican Women Federated” (www.frwf.net) and “The San Diego Republican Congressional Team”, though all of the pages seemed to be assembled in amateurish fashion. The first page I saw, with no author noted, provided “Critical Facts about ObamaCare”. It says ”America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009″ will:
*”Seek to eliminate employer and private insurance plans beginning in 2013.”
*”Restrict care for the elderly, regulate hospice, and control end-of-life decisions.”
*”Penalize with fines any citizens who do not participate; increase taxes on citizens and businesses.”
*”Empower the new Health Care Administration to monitor all medical records and personal information.”
*”Give preference to certain identity groups with an Office of Minority Health.”
Then there was the much-circulated ”detailed analysis” of HR 3200, which is called “Obama’s Healthcare Plan”. No need to list all the whacky misinformation, but here are a few:
*”Page 29: Your health care will be rationed!”
*”Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process).”
*”Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW, ACORN).”
The Fairbanks Republican Women Federated page says, “What can you do?” and offers suggestions such as writing and calling your Congressman as well as:
*”Contact your insurer and your primary care physician and let them know you do not want government-run health care.”
*”Boycott companies such as Wal-Mart that support the bill.”
*”Circulate this page to everyone you know.”
Seniors are easy targets for fraudulent marketing, but this type of misinformation campaign may be the most despicable I have ever seen. As an insurance agent I’m trying to look at all sides of the healthcare debate. But when I see lies and distortions from groups like the Fairbanks Republican Women, I put them in the same category as conmen who prey on seniors. They should be called out for their lies and their targeting of easily-frightened seniors.
