Do you believe that if the current administration remains in office, our health care system will cost more?

Do you believe that Medicare recipients will receive less and pay more? Do you believe there will be “death panels?” Do you believe you will be able to keep your same doctor? Do you believe there will be a serious doctor shortage? Do you believe your insurance premiums will continue to increase yearly by as much as 10 percent? Do you believe our health care system is moving toward a socialized, government dominated and controlled system?

If you answered yes to the preceding questions, you are correct. I have been a clinical physician for nearly 14 years. Over the past two years, I am seeing first hand a disturbing trend in the health care field.

This country deserves to remain the leader in health care, not regress. This country was founded on freedom of choice, not progressive government infiltration. Every U.S. citizen should and can have access to exceptional health care services, without bankrupting individuals, families and this country. Simply stated, the new Affordable Healthcare Act needs to be repealed and replaced.

There are many worrisome, disturbing and critical issues to discuss in reference to the Affordable Healthcare Act. This article will focus on Medicare, of which the following is only the beginning.

I recently asked my patients if they believed Medicare would be better, the same or worse if the current administration remains in office and the Healthcare Act moves forward. To my surprise, the majority surveyed said unchanged. I am deeply concerned, as they do not know the truth.

Medicare is in serious financial trouble. Medicare needs money to continue to operate and remain solvent, and avoid bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the new Healthcare Reform Act cuts 525 billion dollars from Medicare. In addition, Congress is facing 1.2 trillion dollars in budget cuts this coming December, and on the agenda is a 32-percent cut in Medicare reimbursements to physicians. So, why is this important? Why should you care?

Because Medicare reimbursements to doctors have continued to decline overtime, more and more doctors have “opt-out” of Medicare, which means they do not accept Medicare health insurance.

Surprisingly, the government has no idea how many doctors in the United States have opted out of Medicare, as they do not keep data on this topic. On the other hand, Texas is just one of a few states that do, and the trends are disturbing. A survey of Texas physicians in 2011 revealed that 34 percent of doctors limited, or no longer accepted new Medicare patients, and 50 percent were considering dropping Medicare totally.

A survey published by the Physicians’ Foundation in 2010 reported that 52.2 percent of doctors said if the Healthcare Reform Bill passed, it would cause them to close or significantly restrict any Medicare patients in their practice.

The future for Medicare looks bleak at this time. By the year 2020, there is estimated to be an influx of Medicare enrollees in excess of 65 million. This is seriously problematic, as supply of doctors will not be able to keep up with the demand. Keep your doctor … probably not?

The reality is doctors continue to opt out. The current Medicare program is unsustainable, fiscally and for entitled patrons, as long as the wrong decisions continue to be made by the current administration. I am concerned about continued access for seniors to quality health care services, and therefore want people to know the bigger picture of what is really happening at the government level and the eventual, unfavorable implications for seniors.

What can you do? Exercise your right to vote this November during the general presidential election. The new Affordable Healthcare Act can be repealed and replaced, and Medicare can be resuscitated, revived and become solidly viable long-term.

Dr. Linda Petter of Auburn is a weekly feature on KOMO TV/News Radio in Seattle (1000 AM and 97.7 FM) every Saturday and Sunday 7:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m., and on a weekday during the morning and evening commute. She trained at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Illinois, Carle Hospital. Dr. Petter is chief of the Department of Family Practice at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. She is a consumer health care advocate, and her books, “Healthcare on a Budget” and “Common Medical Sense”, are available on Amazon.com. Visit her website, www.DocForAll.com, or call her office at 253-568-0841.