Tarpley & Underwood
Financial Advisors, LLC
Q: Will the government now pay for abortions?
A: No. That’s a MYTH.
The law already in place which prevents using federal money to fund abortions (except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to a woman’s life) is not being altered. 2
Q: Will I have to pay for other people’s abortions?
A: No. That’s a MYTH.
Those opposed to abortion will not be forced to assist in funding them. You can simply select a plan that does not offer them. This applies not only to people who may have objections to abortions on moral grounds, but also to those who simply have no reason to pay an extra premium for that type of coverage (such as women past their child bearing years or single men). 1
Q: Does the “Public Option” mean the government will run health care?
A: No. That’s a MYTH … and a non-factor at this point.
In fact, the “public option” did not make it into the final legislation that President Obama signed. THERE IS NO PUBLIC OPTION. Even before it was dropped from the bill, it was misunderstood to be government-run health care – wherein the government would make your health care decisions. Rather, it would have been government-provided insurance option to compete with private insurance.5
Q: Will my Medicare benefits be cut in order to extend care to others?
A: No. That, too, is a MYTH.
Brooks Jackson, director of FactCheck.org, says that although the reform package includes $500 billion in "cuts", it does NOT include traditional Medicare benefit reductions.8
Q: Does this mean that “death panels” are now a reality?
A: No. And they never were.
This myth was based on misunderstanding of a provision in the original bill that required payment, by Medicare, for health care practitioner-led end-of-life counseling. This is not part of the law.7
For more answers, you can visit www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform
These are the views of Peter Montoya Inc., not Tarpley & Underwood Financial Advisors, LLC, and should not be construed as investment advice. Tarpley & Underwood Financial Advisors, LLC does not give tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If other expert assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. Please consult your Financial Advisor for further information.
Citations
1 - cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/23/health.care.timeline/index.html?hpt=T1 [3/23/10]
2 - signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/23/health-care-myths-realities [3/23/10]
3 - poder360.com/article_detail.php?id_article=3994 [3/24/10]
4 - insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=174568 [3/24/10]
5 - americasnewsonline.com/healthcare-bill-does-very-little-to-hinder-health-insurance-companies-903/ [3/24/10]
6 - americasnewsonlineboston.com/business/personalfinance/managingyourmoney/archives/2010/03/tax_implication [3/24/10]
7 - theglobeandmail.com/news/world/no-death-panels-but-obamas-reforms-do-bring-change/article1508653 [3/22/10]
8 - timesfreepress.com/news/2010/mar/24/medicare-changes-misrepresented-advocates-say [3/24/10]
