KOTA Territory NewsLocal seniors react to healthcare bill

Local seniors react to healthcare bill

Matt Hunter

On Capitol Hill Saturday night, House Democrats cheered as a bill to overhaul the nation's healthcare system passed by five votes.  But back home in KOTA Territory, seniors watched with less enthusiasm.

“I was disappointed,” 74-year-old Richard Pendleton said.

“I was surprised that it passed,” 67-year-old Craig Connor said.

“I don't like it,” Arletta Aune said.

The $1.2-trillion Affordable Healthcare for America Act would restrict insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions; provide federal subsidies to Americans who can't afford insurance; guarantee coverage for 96 percent of Americans; and includes a public option.  It would be the biggest expansion of healthcare coverage in 40 years.

“It's leading toward a socialist way of life,” 70-year-old Paul Trontvet said.  “Medicine under this, practiced in England and other places, has not been good.”

“I feel like there's so many bills being passed, so much money being spent, and so little understanding about what the bills really concern.  It scares me a bit,” Pendleton said.

What scares Trontvet, is the $500-billion cut to Medicare included in the bill.

“Medicare's working for us now,” Trontvet said.  “We have supplementary insurance to go along with it, and I'd sure hate to lose that.”

President Obama is urging the Senate to pass its version of the bill before the end of the year; something senate leaders say is unlikely.

If local seniors had their way, it would take longer than that.

“There's a lot of people stirring that pot, no one seems to have the magic solution,” Connor said.

“I think it's just overladen with hidden taxes. We're all going to suffer if it goes through,” Trontvet said.

“Politics is always a tough game, but the results that I'm seeing now or am hearing now, it can really change the country, but I don't think for good,” Pendleton said.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has endorsed the bill.  It's the first time the group with 40-million members has endorsed legislation of this sort.