Letter: Health mistake

To the editor:

Whenever a new and better idea surfaces, people who are committed to the old way try to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt. A great example of this was Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger’s comments about the Health Care Compact.

Praeger told this newspaper, “If state revenues fall short, then the funds for Medicare and other health programs could be used to support other state functions.” This is patently false. The Health Care Compact requires that federal health care dollars be spent on health care and only on health care. These dollars cannot be siphoned off to other, nonhealth care programs.

Praeger is a big fan of Obamacare. But seniors are turning against Obamacare as they learn that it cuts more than $700 billion dollars from Medicare to pay for Medicaid expansion and insurance subsidies. If Medicare beneficiaries want to protect public funding of their health care, they have a better chance with legislators in Topeka than federal officials in Washington, D.C.

Far from putting Medicare at risk, the Health Care Compact is likely the only path that can protect senior citizens from the unfolding disaster of Obamacare.

It is also not surprising that AARP would oppose the Health Care Compact since the AARP will make more than $2.8 billion from Obamacare. Far from being an advocate for Kansas seniors, AARP has sold out their members.

The Health Care Compact is the best way for our state-elected officials to protect our citizens from the slow-motion train wreck of Obamacare.