My father is in his mid-80s and while he’s in good health for a man of his age, he’s got his share of pill bottles in the medicine cabinet.

If it weren’t for Medicare, which partially covers the cost of his much-needed medications, the out-of-pocket cost of my father’s prescriptions would run into the thousands of dollars every year.

But like all health care coverage, Medicare costs are on the rise; premiums have doubled over the last eight years and will double again by 2017 if action isn’t taken to stem that growth rate.

If health care reforms aren’t passed this year, all doctors in Medicare are expected to see a 21 percent cut in fees—which means that many doctors will stop seeing Medicare patients, according to Seniors to Seniors.com, a coalition of senior citizen advocacy groups advocating for health care reform. A link to the Seniors to Seniors site can be found on the AFT’s Retiree Web page, at www.aft.org/retirement/index.htm.

As more of us near the Medicare-eligible age of 65, these thoughts can send chills up the spine. That’s why seniors—and all of us—should embrace President Barack Obama’s proposed health care reform plan.

Don’t be afraid, this is good change. It’s about your health—and your life.

I’m proud and pleased that UUP delegates to the Fall DA overwhelmingly approved two resolutions supporting health care reform. One pushed for “meaningful health care reform” while the other asserted equal access to quality health care as a human right. Health care reform is imperative; it must occur so all Americans can have this necessary medical coverage.

Medicare, a program so important to millions of American seniors, will be made stronger in many ways under a health care reform package passed by the House of Representatives in November and a bill being debated by the Senate.

Before I get into the pros of health care reform, let’s dispose of the rumors:

• Health care reform will not create “death panels” that would deny care to seniors for savings. Insurance companies will not be making life-and-death decisions concerning you or your family.

• Health care reform will not cut any guaranteed Medicare services, such as doctor visits, hospital care or rehabilitation services.

• Health care reform will not cause doctors to stop taking Medicare. It’s just the opposite: doctors will be paid fairly, so they will continue treating Medicare patients.

And now, the good news.

According to Seniors to Seniors, the House and Senate bills both keep current Medicare benefits intact and improve coverage with services, like coordinating care for chronic conditions and setting lower costs for preventative care.

Prescription drug prices would drop—keeping cash in seniors’ pockets—by closing the coverage gap, or so-called “doughnut hole” under Medicare Part D coverage. Seniors are in the doughnut hole when their out-of-pocket drug costs exceed $2,700 for the year. Once there, they pay the entire cost of medications for the rest of the year until they reach $4,350—an unlikely scenario—when government subsidies restart.

Doctors will be paid fairly under health care reform, which will keep more of them in the system and make it easier to find a doctor if you don’t have one. Long-term care will be more affordable and there will be protections so spouses of those in long-term care won’t go broke paying for the service.

The quality of treatment and management of diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions will be improved. And Medicare will be beefed up financially, in part by eliminating subsidies to private insurance companies, doing away with system waste and fraud, and ending hospital readmissions by offering follow-up care to help seniors return home and not be readmitted for the same issue in a few days or weeks.

Health care reform is good news for all Americans. A comprehensive public health care plan option will guarantee high-quality, affordable coverage for everyone.

Rising health care costs are putting a strain on family budgets and businesses, sucking away dollars that could be used to help pull the country out of the recession. President Obama’s reform plan will give all Americans affordable health care coverage for the first time, and provide many with the option to choose their coverage. Just as importantly, it will establish quality staffing standards that will improve patient safety and reduce medical errors.

You can help make health care reform a reality by telling your elected officials to support President Obama’s reform plan.

You can do that by going to the UUP Web site, www.uupinfo.org, and click on the large “Call to Action” box near the top of the home page. Once there, go to the bottom of the page and click on the AFT health care reform link. That will bring you to AFT’s online Legislative Action center page, where you’ll find a letter titled “Health Care Reform: The Time is Now!”

For seniors like my father, health care reform means more than lowered drug costs, keeping your doctor and improved care. It’s about peace of mind.