Freedom Line Blog

Medicare, the Patron Saint of all that is right with government health care, generally has a positive image.  Despite its massive pending fiscal fallout looming in 2017, seniors are mostly satisfied with the program.  However, tales of Medicare’s greatness are vastly exaggerated.

Michael Moore, for example, made millions (thanks capitalism!) depicting insurance companies as villains denying coverage to the poor and sick.  Government health care, we are told, cares only about compassion and serving those loyal taxpayers who have forked over 12.4% of their salary during their lives to a bankrupt federal program.

Well, according to the American Medical Association (p.2), Medicare actually has the highest percentage of claims denied.  Yes, even the benevolent government-run system that so many liberals in Congress seek to emulate loves denying coverage to taxpayers and patients.

Per the AMA 2008 Nationl Health Insurer Report Card:  Medicare denied 6.85% of claims, compared to a 2.9% denial rate by Humana and a 2.68% denial rate by United Health Care.

The next time you hear someone proclaim the virtues of a public option, remind them that if Medicare is any example, our health care system is in for even more trouble.