A report released yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services revealed that Medicare paid for far too many penis pumps between 2006 and 2011. Like, nearly $200 million worth.
According to the report, Medicare—which supplies senior citizens in the U.S. with health insurance—spent $172.4 million on 474,000 claims during that period. Newsweek said that's about twice what the average consumer would've paid at the retail level. Furthermore, the annual claims for penis pumps (which are officially known as vacuum erection systems or VES), did a somersault, jumping from $20.6 million in 2006 to $38.6 million in 2011.
With U.S. lawmakers attempting to establish some type of accord on a $1 trillion spending bill, many argue that penis pumps for senior citizens are among the last things the government needs to be wasting money on. Heartland Institute's Ben Domenech has a message for all seniors who really covet penis pumps: "Just buy it yourself —you don't need to send the bill to your fellow Americans."
There's nothing wrong with wanting to remain sexually active, just consider the literal cost.
[via Newsweek]
