HOWARD HOUSES GOLDEN AGE CLUB, Hon. EUGENE J. KEOGH, GOLDEN AGE CENTER, Brooklyn, N.Y., November 26, 1963. Member of Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN: The enclosed list of a few of the members of the Howard Houses Golden Age Club showing the amount received by them through social security, their hospital and medical bills for the past year, and the monthly rent bills that they pay shows clearly why we need the King-Anderson bill (H.R. 3920) as soon as possible. The majority are supplementing their needs through the meager lifetime savings, that are constantly shrinking, with no possibility of rebuilding. Will you please see that this is presented to the Ways and Means Committee, and made part of the record. Many thanks. Yours sincerely, OSCAR C. DEUTSCHER, President, Howard Houses, Golden Age Club. Re H.R. 3920. Mr. LEO H. IRWIN, NATIONAL GERIATRICAL SOCIETY, SENIORS OF THE GOLDEN GATE, Chief Counsel, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR MR. IRWIN: The board of directors of the National Geriatrical Society, together with the Seniors of the Golden Gate, have considered H.R. 3920, as introduced in the House of Representatives, on February 21, 1963, by Mr. King, representing the State of California, as a bill to provide under the social security program for payment for hospital and related services to aged beneficiaries, and this bill should be passed. They suggest that this bill be passed as written and as printed in brochure No. J. 85001-M-1. Further, they also suggest that this bill be put in operation as soon as possible so that any discrepancies that may appear may be corrected in a proper atmosphere. This bill, known as the Hospital Insurance Act of 1963, covers in its simplest form the basic medical care needs of those persons who have reached the age of 65 years or more, who are unable now or will be unable then, to do these things for themselves. First suggested in 1951, it is in keeping with the suggestion of our president, Mr. Harry L. Stuver, who, away back in 1951 suggested that: "A civilian department should be added to the Social Security Administration to do the very thing that this bill will do; i.e., take care of those persons, including women, who were left out in the cold because they have no social security or other benefit. The means test: It is hard to realize that those persons who had worked so hard to build up this country and had saved for their old age in their younger years, which savings they lost in the grand debacle centered about 1935, through no fault of their own, and which savings they have not been able to regain, should be subjected to the undignified process of swearing to a pauper's oath in order to get a bit of medical care or a bite to eat. With the best of good wishes, we are, Sincerely, HARRY L. STUVER, President, N.G.S. LOS ANGELES, CALIF. STATEMENT OF THE INTERCENTER SENIOR ADULT COUNCIL OF THE JEWISH CENTERS ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES, CALIF., TO THE HONORABLE WILBUR D. MILLS, CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN FAVOR OF THE KING-ANDERSON BILL, H.R. 3920, IN LIEU OF ORAL TESTIMONY Mr. Chairman, we believe that it's about time that health care be regarded as a right, not as a commodity to be bought and sold over the counter like any other merchandise. Moreover, this commodity is one of the most expensive and available only to the very rich, who by the way are likely to find themselves cured from a serious malady, but starving, the witch doctors having departed with the supply of gold dust. The American people are all entitled to the best medical service which science and art permit. And the senior citizen, susceptible to illness more often than the younger generation, with a curtailed income in most instances, should not be deprived of the same medical care. We are, therefore, advocating the adoption of the King-Anderson bill, now before this committee, as the administration proposal (H.R. 3920). This bill offers our elder generation: (1) The security of good care in a good hospital with the choice of three plans of duration of in-hospital care plus nursing home and other benefits. (2) Diagnostic outpatient study, which will help detect symptoms of ailments in time to avert serious illness and minimize costly, prolonged medical care and save lives. (3) Provide assurance against the snarls of redtape, exclusions, limitations, etc., and for admittance to hospitals. (4) Benefits which will be in services, not in dollars with changing values. (5) Premiums paid during working years and stop at retirement age. (6) Benefits available at retirement to all 65 or older, including those who receive no social security. (7) Uniform services all over the country and available wherever one lives. (8) Protection that will not be canceled. (9) Hospital care under social security as a right, earned by labor and accumulated by payments during working years, not degrading charity. (10) Major decisions in the patient's care will be in his best interests, not of those of stockholders. PRIVATE INSURANCE Within the last few years an avalanche of new policies in the field of health and hospital care was thrown on the market by the insurance industry and it is common knowledge that coverages are inadequate, too many exclusions and limitations, difficult to obtain for those that need coverage most, too expensive, and abuses by doctors, hospitals, and adjusters flourish. KERR-MILLS ACT Its workings are ably delt with in an editorial of the New York Times, western edition, of November 6: "Shortchanging the Aging" (enclosure No. 1). A visit to a social service desk in any hospital, when a paying patient is transferred to a charity ward because his resources were all exhausted will convince anybody of the inhumanity and cruelty of it. Please see Congressional Record, volume 109, No. 172, Monday, October 28, pages 19297 to 19299. And this in generous California. Colorado, North Dakota, New Mexico, Kentucky *** and what about the 22 States that still do not participate after 3 years. Enclosures Nos. 2 and 3 deal with the newest California private medical plan. Governor Brown signed it into law, but at his news conference he said: "When you see the cost of this western 65, you'll see the need for medicare." There is such an abundance of statistics issued by responsible government agencies, that we are sure every member of this committee is familiar with them. To quote only a few from the Department of Mental Hygiene, State of California, November 1958: "The neglected man, 65 plus was 18 percent of the total resident population June 30, 1941; jumps to 30 percent in 1957. First admissions, 12.5 percent in 1941; jumps to 17.5 percent in 1957. The year ending June 30, 1957, saw a total 65-ers 9,756, not including alcoholics, syphilitics, and others of this kind. August 1959 report as of June 30, 1958, total 65-ers 10,209 and 30.8 percent of total residents." Try to visualize the human wreckage behind these figures. The oldsters involved and their families behind them. Consider how many are products of fear of prolonged illness. The most vociferous critics of the bill before the committee are the AMA and their allies, the high priests of the golden calf. In the present art of healing the doctor no longer stands alone. Biochemists, biologists, physicists, and others are an integral part of it. Nurses, social workers, dieticians, special therapists, laboratory technicians, and even laundry workers and dishwashers are also a very important component in the overall scheme of medical care. Medicine should maintain good health and the pursuit of health is a right and an obligation of every citizen. It is needed by everybody and is part of the social organism of our culture, like defense, conservation, roads, water, light, fire protection, etc., that the population cannot go without. A public utility. And like all public utilities is monopoliste by nature, and when it prices itself out of the market, the Government must step in to insure the people their inalienable rights. The AMA is a split personality-Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While Dr. Jekyll does meritorious scientific work collecting and disseminating medical knowledge for the good of humanity in research, education, and practice, Mr. Hyde, the AMA hierarchy, is spending most of his time in exerting pressure on behalf of his minions by means false and foul that reflect the hysteria and fear in the minds of little men to whom the protection of their current security interests takes precedence over the incalculable cost for the country as a whole. Enclosure No. 4, floodgates opened for the fast-buck artists-quite a lot was brought out in the Senate. Enclosure No. 5, opinions of honest doctors, dedicated to healing, etc. Enclosure No. 6 is of interest by the fact that the little man journeyed from Florida to Santa Monica to harangue a captive audience respecting neither facts, nor personalities nor truth in his zeal to serve the golden calf, by springing the old, long-discredited bugaboo-that the King-Anderson bill would give the Fords, Rockefellers, Morgans, and the very rich like them, free medical care, ignoring the fact that former President Eisenhower signed a bill in May 1960, allowing the 100-percent deduction of medical expenses from the income tax of all 65-ers, the Fords, etc., included. The arrogance, the nerve of underrating the intelligence of the American electorate including their representatives in both Houses of Congress is not only ridiculous, but tragic. SUMMARY All we want is peace of mind at the threat of sickness, Our generation helped bring our country to its greatness, And they want to make beggars of us for the effort. Our labor helped build medical schools and hospitals, And they are making a monopoly of a noble profession. Not premature senility, but pride, dignity, self-respect and independence should not be denied our generation. In "Problems of the Aging," part 3, Los Angeles, Calif., October 24, 1961, on pages 514, 515, 516, and 517, is my statement at the hearings before the subcommittee of the U.S. Senate. Please see it. The facts are as valid today as they were then and none are repeated in the one before you now. Respectfully submitted to the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Honorable Wilbur D. Mills. MAX WEINER, Regional Secretary. STATEMENT OF LOREN A. HICKS, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH Broward SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB, POMPANO BEACH, FLA. Our organization is on record as wholeheartedly in support of H.R. 3920, better known as the King-Anderson proposal. In support of the need of this type of legislation, I wish to cite a happening that occurred in this county, just 1 year ago today, in Hallandale, Fla. In a rented apartment, an elderly man and his wife were found dead-her body sprawled across the bed, his found crouched on the floor, his hands still clasped around her lifeless feet. Why did these people decide to end their lives by taking an overdose of sleeping pills? They left notes addressed to their daughter, asking her forgiveness for their act. Beside the notes were an avalanche of doctor and hospital bills, some paid, others unpaid. The major paid bills were for doctors' services, the largest unpaid one was for a recent stay of the wife in a Fort Lauderdale hospital. Canceled checks were also found for payment of huge quantities of drugs, used to ease the pain of illness. What, since medical care is available to all, whether they can afford it or not, prompted Mr. and Mrs. Jaggi to do this horrid thing! Was it because they were too proud to submit to a degrading means test or, was it because they did not wish to become a financial burden to their children? Are we so hardened today that human beings are denied the care that was formerly given to wornout work horses, who were put out to pasture in their declining years? This couple no doubt came to Florida from New Rochelle, N.Y., for reasons of health. The Kerr-Mills law, which the AMA claims to be the final solution of the problem, penalizes the elderly, if they do not reside in a rich industrial State. In the fiscal year, ending in 1963, the State of New York expended over $93 million for MAA, and there is every likelihood it will sharply increase this coming year. In contrast, the State of Florida has the pitiful amount of $14 million appropriated for each of the next 2 years. Florida, with one-third of the aged population of New York, as a matter of equity, should expend one-third of $93 million, or $31 million. In the coming holidays, Dr. Edward R. Annis and his organized group, will no doubt give thanks that they have defeated the aged sick, and give praise to God in the highest on Christmas Day that all is well in the world. NOVEMBER 11, 1963. Mr. LEO IRWIN, DEAR MR. IRWIN: At our quarterly of the Senior Citizens Association of Los Angeles County delegates meeting, held in Los Angeles, October 21, 1963, a vote was taken as to whether the association would go on record in favor of the King-Anderson bill for medicare. Ninety-six percent of those present and voting voted to go on record in favor of the bill. We urge that you use every possible means to get this bill out of the committee for a vote during the present session. Very sincerely, LARRY CHRISCO, President. THE SENIOR CITIZEN, Chicago, Ill., November 15, 1963. DEAR CONGRESSMAN: An appeal to reason. Our legislative machinery is still operating with 19th century oxcart speed. Committees of the Congress are holding back popular proposed legislation that should have gone to the floor of Congress in a much shorter period of time, giving all the Representatives of the people much more time to discuss and vote, for or against, such proposals. This is a threat to the democratic process, and occuring at a time when our Nation should be fully united to meet the grave international challenge, which has placed such a heavy burden upon our taxpapers. The great need of millions of our elderly is hospitalization under our social security system. The majority have not been able to meet the high cost of hospitalization. The aged of Europe all enjoy this protection. Why shall not the aged in the richest country in the world? And why should not the Members of the Congress have an opportunity at this session to vote on this vital proposal, the King-Anderson bill? Hospital care under social security will save our aged from becoming objects of charity. They will not need to pass a pauper's test when they reach retirement age, and will be able to maintain their pride and dignity. Nearly a million of our elderly of this period have had their life's savings wiped out by high doctor and hospital costs. They are now compelled to live out their remaining years on their small social security check they receive monthly. Had they had hospital coverage their life's savings would have enabled them to continue to live better than at a subsistence level, by using up small amounts of their savings each year. Most elderly favor increased salaries for Congressmen. The late Supreme Court Justice Brandeis said: "That the failure of a Nation to solve today's problems only accentuates and complicates tomorrow's." It is absolutely certain that if we fail to give our aged hospital care without the stigma of being recipients of charity, the day may not be far off when we will be compelled to adopt the plan of Great Britain, socialized medicine. Help the aged now to a more secure life. Sincerely, It is humane, it is right. WM. CASTLEMAN, Publicity Director. THE POLISH-AMERICAN SENIOR CITIZENS COUNCIL, Hon. LEO IRWIN, Chief Counsel, House Ways and Means Committee, HONORABLE SIR: The Polish-American Senior Citizens' Council of Chicago, Ill., consisting of 500 members, presents the great need of millions of our golden age senior citizens of hospitalization under our social security system. The majority have not been able to meet the high cost of hospitalization. The aged of Europe all enjoy this protection-why shall not the aged in the richest country in the world? And why should not the Members of the Congress have an opportunity at this session to vote on this vital proposal, the King-Anderson bill? Hospital care under social security will save our aged from becoming objects of charity. |