The Denver Post published a piece this weekend entitled: Many Colo. seniors fret on health reform.

Is anyone surprised by this? While many seniors would love to see everyone have the same opportunity for healthcare as those who get Medicare, most realize the impracticability and impossibility of such a notion. It is a little like saying that everyone who “shows up” for the game should get a winning trophy!

To compare Medicare with something like a “public health care plan,” is downright silly. If you are eligible for Medicare, or soon will be, then you know that getting access to a great health care system is something you have earned. You have worked hard, supported our country, and participated in our great democracy. Nobody gave you anything. You worked for it and waited for it and now you will receive your reward.

Politicians pitching for “government controlled” health care reform believe that everyone has a “right” to Medicare-like access. Most seniors however don’t need to look far to see the folly of such an idea.

In the first place, Medicare itself needs help. Somewhere close to 80 million baby boomers will turn 65 in the next decade and a half. America has an obligation to help these folks and give to them the honor that is due. At MedicareNational.com, we applaud older Americans and believe it is the duty of younger Americans to sacrifice and give, so that you can be cared for.

If you have worked hard to buy a Cadillac to enjoy in your retirement, nobody has a right to sell your Caddy so everyone in the neighborhood can have a bicycle.

If you are mad at politicians who want to take away what you have earned, we don’t blame you. We believe your anger is justified.

Understanding Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, also known as “Part D Medicare” (I use the “D” to help me remember it is for “Drugs”) is not difficult to understand, once you grasp the basic concepts.

Very simply put, Part D is like an entirely different insurance policy that you buy to help pay for your prescription medications. The confusing part is that the government (Medicare) tells you how you can buy it, when you can change it, etc., but you don’t actually get the policy from Medicare. You buy the policy from a private insurance company.

Following is an illustration which should help you to better understand Part D.

Most of the time, when you buy a new car, they like to sell you different “upgrades” or “options.”

One car you look at has a really basic stereo built in. There is no CD play, no fancy MP3 player, no blue tooth, just a plain old radio. If you don’t even like to listen to music in the car, you might not even care what kind of stereo the car has.

Some Medicare regulated plans, like Original Medicare, Original Medicare with a Medigap Plan, and some Private Fee for Service Plans (A Medicare Advantage Plan that supposedly gives you more freedom to see more doctors) are sort of like that car with a basic radio. If you don’t take prescription medication, you might not care about having a fancy “upgrade” that helps you pay for what you don’t use.

Just like a car with a simple car stereo, you can always pay later if you want to upgrade. You can take your car to a stereo store and they will put in whatever kind of stereo you want. That is also true with most Medicare plans.

Some Medicare plans (like HMOs and PPOs that fall under Medicare Advantage Plans – or Part C) already include Prescription coverage. This is like buying a car that already has an “upgrade” stereo built in.

I have spoken with many people who believe that they may enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan and keep their Medicare Supplement Plan. This simply is not the case. Medicare Advantage Plans work in place of Original Medicare, and Medigap Plans only work with Original Medicare.

If you have Original Medicare PLUS a Medicare Supplement Policy and you are planning to switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan, you cannot keep your Medigap plan to pay for deductibles, copayments or coinsurance.

If you are considering canceling your Medicare Supplement, you should talk to a qualified professional or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program before you do. The fact is, you may not be able to get it back.

If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy unless you are switching back to Original Medicare.