WASHINGTON — Some Medicare questions for consumers to keep in
mind, along with answers from Republican candidate Mitt Romney's
campaign and the views of experts:  Q: What happens if Romney's
fixed health-insurance payment for future retirees fails to keep
up with rising medical costs?  A: Thousands of dollars in costs
could get shifted to retirees, punching holes in household
budgets. Health-care inflation is in a lull, but historically it
has grown faster than the economy, overall inflation and
workers' wages. Romney's campaign says his goal is to avoid
cost-shifting and to secure for future Medicare beneficiaries
affordable coverage options at least as good as what's available
for today's seniors. Lower-income Medicare recipients would get
more money from the government for their health insurance.
Competition among insurers will keep costs in check, says the
Romney campaign. The government payment will be based on
competitive bids.   "As plans compete with each other to provide
better care more efficiently,