A new ‘scarlet letter’

Nathaniel Hawthorne published The Scarlet Letter in 1850, revealing a society where people were wrongfully punished. Hester Prynne was sentenced to wear a scarlet “A” around her neck to signify her crime of adultery.

I too have been sentenced with a scarlet “A.” My “A” stands for Aging.

I am guilty of living a long and productive life, raising a family, working and paying taxes, and remaining self-sufficient and active in my community. I am guilty of doing that for 80 years.

I am guilty of paying a huge health insurance premium every month— for Medicare, and for supplemental insurance to take care of what Medicare does not cover. But now that I have reached the age where I particularly need to keep watch on my health, I cannot find health care.

Doctors in Little Rock are not taking new Medicare patients!

I am a new resident and homeowner in Little Rock, and I have called and written letters to every family health clinic in this city, asking for an appointment for primary care. Result: either no response at all, or those deadly words, “Sorry, we don’t take new Medicare patients.”

“Don’t take it personally,” I am told, “it’s just about money.” I guess that makes me feel worse—that clinics limit how many old people a doctor is allowed to treat. We simply aren’t worth as many dollars.

Nathaniel, please come back and write another book. Those of us wearing the scarlet “A” of Aging are being wrongfully punished.

LINDA BURTON

Little Rock