by Anita Keller

Created on: January 12, 2008   Last Updated: May 25, 2010

The most important problem that senior citizens face today is the cost of medical care. What is the use of money if you are not alive to enjoy it? Why have a home if grandpa cannot live out his last years in comfort?

The cost of medical care has risen to exorbitant levels over the last few decades. The family doctor claims his malpractice insurance has risen because of too many frivolous lawsuits. As his overhead rose, he had had to pass the costs to his consumer, the patient. Never mind that the doc can somehow afford to drive a Mercedes and put his kid through Yale.

Thankfully, most elderly have Medicare B, which covers a portion of their doctor's visits after a small deductible. The problem begins when Grandma and Grandpa are on a limited budget and find that they cannot afford this deductible. Maybe they have been able to meet the deductible but then Grandpa ends up in the hospital and they get socked with an exorbitant bill. Though it is a small portion of the original hospital bill, there's no way they can pay that bill.

Doctors are not the only culprits. Pharmaceutical companies are draining consumers dry, feasting like a vampire on the wallets of the consumer and insurance companies. The cost of manufacturing medication is small compared to the high prices they charge the consumer. The difference between their manufacturing costs and the price they sell the medication at is all profit.

Those who are lucky enough to have insurance ignore these problems. If it is not directly affecting their wallets, why worry? Rather, these issues slam-dunk those who cannot afford insurance; e.g. the poor and elderly.

Yes, there is Medicare but it only covers to a certain point. Many of our nation's elderly require a multitude of medications to keep themselves healthy. Different plans cover differed medications and to different extents. This system is total chaos and confuses even the most logical members of our elderly.

Why is it so hard for our country to provide the care our elderly deserve? Something is seriously wrong when grandma has to choose between buying her blood pressure or food for her cupboards. Has our society fallen so far that we have lost the respect for our elders?

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