This week Seniors from three parts of the country wrote with details of "Extra Payments" for the year requested by their doctors.  No one felt their doctors were being unreasonable because each doctor explained that the increased cost of reporting required by the new healthcare law was threatening their ability to accept Medicare patients. 

The annual payments of $125 to $150 in AZ, FL and IN are not isolated incidents as physicians try to operate a business and provide a service without going bankrupt.  With the Medicare reimbursements already low and more services required some doctors are moving to areas where Seniors will comprise less of their total patient population.   

One area in Florida has already seen three of their four cardiac surgeons relocate out of the state. 

A podiatric surgeon in NY receives so little from Medicaid and Medicare  that she stopped billing anything for Medicaid  services and has had to stop making housecalls to Medicare patients.

To preserve the quality and availability of good healthcare we Super Seniors can inform other Seniors of the realities of the changes already begun. It is vital that we spread awareness to those who may not be informed as to the consequences ahead. 

Join other Super Seniors as a Senior Pamphleteer to inform and educate as you go about your regular round of appointments and activities.

Click here to print out the healthcare pamphlet which is repeated twice per page.  Cut the pages in half and be determined to "share" the short but effective pamphlets in waiting rooms, hospitals, club and church meetings and wherever you go each day.

If we each can drop off 20 pamphlets per month we will inform many thousands and empower them to have a voice in this change affecting all Americans.

Make it a goal and a priority so that our wonderful healthcare is still there when our children and grandchildren turn to it for help.

 http://www.912superseniors.org/cola-project/cola-project-results/ 

As of April 5, the latest reported gasoline extremes are a high of $4.08 and $4.05 at Mountain Ranch and at Elk Grove, CA.

The lowest gas prices were $3.32 and $3.37 in Galena, OH and Conroe, TX.

The April 5,  total inflation over 15 weeks of items tracked is 7%.  Gasoline, as we watch it soar, has climbed by 23.9% during that time.

A main staple, flour, has gone up by 20% and American cheese is now 15% more expensive.

Thanks to you faithful and patient Seniors for continuing your efforts.  Our tracking is calling attention to what all Americans are facing, but few know the true rate of increase thanks to an unwilling media.

You Survey Seniors continue to provide the data needed to call out the rate of change to our most basic groceries and gasoline.

 We will continue collecting the data which we publish and also pass on to Glenn Beck through his producers.

            President Obama has been in office over two years.  Rather than wait decades for historians to rate his performance let's do something unique.  He loves sports and kids so it's a natural progression to apply a popular feel good metric, commonly used by coaches and parents, to assess some of his decision making.   We shall playfully consider awarding President Obama "performance trophies", or something less, based on his handling of issues, both foreign and domestic  

            First comes Egypt.  Evolving from a generally supportive position of President Mubarak, Mr. Obama moved towards the rebels in time to bask in their victory.  It may be clever politically to wait and pick the winner after they win, but that's hardly trophy worthy.  We offer a scrolled "Certificate of Attendance".  Next up, Libya. Obama, prodded by the French, joined NATO and the United Nations, and, while with family in Brazil, committed our military to battle.  In a speech, some 9 days later, he touted America's need to lead this humanitarian mission.  That was quickly followed by the announcement of our withdrawal from critical combat operations.  Let's award a couple of lapel pins, one each representing NATO and the UN.  Would we could have added a congressional pin, but President Obama pretty much ignored that august body while launching attacks. 

            If we list playing golf and making NCAA picks  as part of domestic policy we can hand out a couple of trophies.  The president aced those by filling out his brackets on ESPN, and taking his 61^st golf outing, in the midst of swirling crises.  On the fiscal front Mr. Obama acknowledged concerns over our unprecedented level of debt by convening, with great fanfare,  a respected bipartisan commission to address the problem.  They did, and in considerable, unpleasant detail.  Obama's subsequent silence has been so deafening that 60 senators from both parties sent a letter scolding him for his absence on this preeminently crucial issue. There's nothing laudable there.

       On the energy front, Brazil may see him deserving of a statuette. He brought about a billion bucks down there, encouraging them to drill because, "We want to be one of your best customers." To be fair, Mr. Obama, has carried the water for electric cars.  Putting aside their limited range and need to recharge using electricity mostly provided by coal fired plants, let's give him a symbolic green ribbon, representing the obvious.

            Perhaps historians will be kinder.