Medicare = Medi-scare?

With the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) so much in the news, and talk of change coming from all directions, what is all of this doing to Medicare?

Should you be worried?

Short run – very few of the changes will impact you or even be noticeable

Medium run – these relationships will change

....the relationship of providers with the government, and to a lesser extent

....your relationship with your doctor and other providers

Long run – the Medicare system will be subject to major changes, some will be noticeable to you and others not – 

.... some of the changes may raise your out-of-pocket or the quality of your care

So should you be worried?  Yes.   Long run.

In the long run the federal government is asking for

Higher quality
More prevention
Chronic disease management
Fewer services to lower costs
Lower cost per service

Problem is, can the government accomplish all of these goals without wrecking large parts of the system?

Time will tell.