Courtrooms, Medicare coverage raise concerns

After a news report in the Northwest Arkansas section of this paper regarding the space problem and the debacle locating the new courtrooms downtown Bentonville will create, it could be said several thousand voters in the 2016 primary election helped foster this situation. Also, a campaign funding ratio of $80,000 to $8,000, and an exceptional power to influence voters fulfilled a selfish goal that the new courtrooms would be built downtown.

A man with a degree in construction management, years running a construction company and head of Benton County government was ousted, and a former vendor rep for Disney Companies — who now has the power to make the final decision for the location of the courtrooms — was elected with a mandate for where that will be..

If not for the above scenario, there would now probably be a spacious courts building, easily accessible, which would accommodate the judges, clerks and all those involved with the functions of the circuit courts. Also, ample parking just outside the door, and space for future expansion. The sheriff’s office could just walk prisoners over for court appearances rather than busing and security for a trip downtown.

On another subject, it’s that time of year for mail-outs and TV commercials directed at seniors involving supplemental health insurance to cover what normally is 20 percent or so Medicare does not pay for health care. Most of these solicitations involve Medicare Advantage.

Several years ago when Blanche Lincoln was our senator, I emailed Sen. Lincoln asking how it was that most of my friends, who were not poor, were paying very little or zero for their Medicare supplemental insurance. Her lengthy response revealed how this program came about, and its excessive cost to the government. Note: Seniors with Advantage plans are no longer in regular Medicare but an insurance company HMO.

Insurance companies had convinced Medicare that if the small premiums charged to seniors— which help cover the 80 percent of health care costs Medicare normally pays—were passed on to the insurance companies, through competition and efficiency, they could furnish coverage for a small additional cost. Of course, that didn’t work out, and in Arkansas at that time those plans cost the government 20 percent more than regular Medicare.

I have supplemental coverage with United Healthcare, for which I pay around $200 a month for full coverage—which continues year-to-year with no hassle or contact, unless I choose to make a change. Now, there’s some confusion about whether United will renew contracts with health providers for Medicare Advantage plans.

I visited the business office of our Siloam hospital, told the young man at the desk I wanted to be sure if I came through their door, I would be covered. After a rather lengthy phone consultation, he kept assuring me that so long as I had a Medicare supplemental policy I was fine. I got a message from his repeated references to Medicare supplemental policy: He was telling me not Medicare Advantage. BARBARA FOREMAN

Siloam Springs