With the health care debate changing on a daily basis, it is often hard to separate the facts from the myths.

“I hear rumors such as ‘the government is trying to take over everything,’” said Tina Seals, owner of Seals Insurance in Lincoln. “It makes you wonder what’s next. They say the health care reform is not socialized medicine or a government takeover, but it sometimes sounds like that is where it’s headed.”

Seals said she is concerned about paying more for government coverage of individuals who abuse the system.

“Who will make the decisions on deductibles and co-pays and on which doctors and medicines you can see and get?” she said.

She also has concerns on how health care reform will be paid for.

“Will coverage be based on income?” she said. “Are we going to pay more for it because we work than those who are unemployed?”

Seals said she feels the government should provide seminars, similar to a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Part D seminar she recently attended, which would outline health care reform so individuals could better understand it.

Questions abound on health reform

“The debate keeps raising more questions than answers, and the more you try to listen, the more confused you get about it,” Seals said.

“It is important for individuals to be good consumers and make sure they get the facts regarding the health care debate,” said Associate State Director for American Association of Retired People Bill Hawkins when he recently addressed the Talladega Rotary Club.

Hawkins said AARP, a not-for-profit and non-partisan organization for individuals ages 50 and older, is trying to help ensure individuals get the correct facts regarding the health care debate and protect the rights of the individuals AARP serves.

“Your life melds into the health care debate,” he said. “But we are really talking about health care insurance reform.”

Hawkins said a lot of individuals don’t believe in health care reform in any way, shape, or form.

“People are scared and want to keep their health care coverage,” he said.

Hawkins said information about several myths and facts may be found on the AARP Web site and at www.healthactionnow.org. Click on myths. Individuals may also call the AARP Contact Center for health care reform for questions and materials at 1-866-AARP-449 or 1-866-227-7449.

Myths vs. facts

Myths and misleading information have been dominant from both sides in the debate over health care reform, and AARP has attempted to identify some of the myths and answer them on its Web site.

Following is the most commonly held myths and AARP’s response on the www.healthactionnow.org site:

• Myth: Health care reform is socialized medicine.

Hawkins said the health care reform is not about a government takeover.

Health care reform will preserve the employer-based health care system and give individuals a range of private health plans to choose from in addition to a “public plan” for individuals who can’t find affordable, quality coverage in the private insurance market.

• Myth: Health care reform means rationed care.

None of the health care reform proposals being considered would stand between individuals and their doctors or prevent any American from choosing the best possible care. It would not give the government power to make life or death decisions for anyone, regardless of age. It would help ensure that doctors are paid fairly so they will continue to treat Medicare patients.

• Myth: Health care reform will hurt Medicare.

Hawkins said health care reform could help protect seniors’ access to their doctors.

For people on Medicare, health care reform is about lowering prescription drug costs for people in the “doughnut hole” (the gap in Medicare Part D coverage), keeping the doctor of your choice, improving the quality of care, and eliminating billions in waste that is causing poor care and medical errors.

• Myth: Health care reform is too expensive—we can’t afford it.

President Obama and Congress have committed to producing legislation that will be paid for so it won’t saddle this generation’s children and grandchildren with debt, according to the site.

It goes on to add a fact and a bottom line on health care reform.

“Fact: If we do nothing to fix health care, families with Medicare or employer-based health coverage will likely see their premiums nearly double again in the next seven years.”

“Bottom Line: When one in three Americans say someone in their family skipped pills, postponed or cut back on needed medical care due to the cost; when countless bankruptcies are related to medical expenses; when the number of uninsured approaches 50 million; when government spending on health programs rises so rapidly that it jeopardizes other priorities; and when employers struggle to pay the costs of health care, the fact is, we can’t afford not to fix health care.”

• Myth: Health care reform means the government can make life-and-death decisions for you.

Hawkins said health care reform will not give the government power over life-and-death decisions, regardless of age. Those decisions will still be made by the individual, the individual’s doctor, and the individual’s family.

“We are not talking about death panels and ‘killing your grandma,’” Hawkins said. “But the health care debate continues to change on a daily basis, and it is important for individuals to get the correct facts.”