Proposed Medicare Reductions

I'm concerned about the proposed cuts for Medicare recipients. Proponents talk about cost-saving cuts such as 40% reductions on reimbursement of echocardiograms, stress tests and cardiac catheterizations.

These are payment cuts not incentives to encourage hospitals and physicians to reduce their costs. Patients will need to pay the difference either directly or through supplemental insurance plans.

Many seniors have supplemental plans already, even AARP has a plan available for purchase, but I'm sure those plans won't assume these additional charges without raising their rates.

So seniors will face not only a two year freeze in social security benefits, but a hefty increase in medical costs.