Do you ever watch those commercials that cater to the aged? All manner of products aimed toward the "Medicare Set" are offered in carefully tailored presentations. The TV network wonks have advertizing demographics down to a science. The old 80's shows on TV Land seemed to be all sponsored by companies marketing to the age group who visit them most often, those who were "prime-timers" when LaVerne and Shirley were "Sha-banging and sha-meeling" out on their front walk.
The Medicare Set's viewership is rewarded by such disparate offerings as adult incontinence products, penis pumps and mobility scooters, and by god, they'll even show you how to get Medicare to pay for it!
Look, I don't have any problem with Medicare to cover medical treatment and hospitalization; I'll be there myself in a few years. However, in these critical budgetary times I wondered just how Medicare became so all-encompassing that Uncle Sugar can pay for every single medical need! At what point does the individual take some responsibility for even a meager amount of their medical treatment? Must we really pay for penis pumps for seniors? Are seniors really having that much sex? When seniors reach the age of 65, are they all relegated to a mobility scooter? And, if so, can't someone in their immediate family contribute something to take care of mom and pop? Finally, how in hell are these seniors needing a mobility scooter to get around but still have the stamina for sex and penis pumps? I recently read a report by the Washington Post that the Medicare program is paying four times the actual cost of motorized wheel chairs! This fraud is rampant throughout the program. That's why I'm so damned angry that the feds continue to want to run the entire healthcare system; there is just too little oversight and too damn much fraud!
If you've read my previous blog entries you know that my prime concern about Medicare/Medicaid are the numbers of people who have absolutely no business getting this assistance; illegal aliens, anchor babies and folks getting paid in cash and gaming the social service system by reporting lower than actual earnings. However, there is also fraud throughout the Medicare/Medicaid program which includes seniors receiving bennies that we just can't afford! By all means, lets pay for medical care and treatments for our most vulnerable citizens. But, by God, I'll be damned if I'm happy paying for Penis Pumps for Grandpa who's apparently having more sex than I am!
