Posted on 08/21/2005 5:34:15 AM PDT by Nachum
Aug. 12: They came in wheelchairs to the Rasmussen Senior Center in Oildale Thursday to hear their congressman tout the new federal prescription drug plan that goes into effect on Jan. 1. What they heard angered some of them.
As U.S. Rep. Bill Thomas detailed the controversial plan and opened up the floor for questions, he seemed unprepared for the reaction. Thomas and the state's secretary of health and human services had spent the previous 15 minutes detailing what the government was going to do for seniors and disabled Americans.
But it sounded like folly to many of the seniors like Billy Olson. "For the most seriously ill, we'll be really hurt by this program," said Olson, who has multiple sclerosis and requires up to $1,500 in therapy and pills a month. "The way it sounds to me is that I'm better off to stay with the charity. And my situation isn't unique."
(Excerpt) Read more at nl.newsbank.com ...
Some favored the prescription drug bill. Like Marian Threshold, who has to choose between medications her doctors said were necessary because she can't afford them all. She chooses depending on what aches the most that month. The prescription bill would cover more of her drug costs.
Thomas said the plan could provide prescription drug coverage to 42 million of the neediest Californians. Anyone who qualifies for Medicare would qualify for the plan. The government estimates that the average monthly premium for the drug coverage will be $32.20, about 14 percent less than the $37.37 that was offered under the administration's first proposal.
U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt said the program will save members an average of $1,300 a year in drug costs. In general, the plan will pay 75 percent of initial drug costs up to $2,250 annually after a $250 deductible. But it offers no payment for drug costs from $2,251 to $5,099 -- forcing consumers to pay out of pocket.
More than 25 percent of seniors are likely to have drug costs that fall in that gap, according to the Congressional Budget Office. "My pills cost me $3,000. How do they expect me to pay all of that by myself?" asked Eileen Dietz, a 62-year-old retired teacher. "I've done my reading and I'm better off on Medi-Cal."
After the period for questions closed, Thomas reassured the audience that "no one will lose their prescription drug program." Those enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state-federal insurance program, will be automatically enrolled in a Medicare prescription drug plan this fall. The government estimates that up to 30 million of the 42 million eligible Medicare beneficiaries will sign up during the voluntary enrollment period. A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation in April found that only 9 percent of seniors definitely plan to enroll in a Medicare drug plan. But 37 percent said they would not.
Really special how all these people think someone else should pay for the their expensive drugs because "they can't afford them".
I suspect the 62 year old retired teacher miht have considered working till 65 and saving money for drugs.
The problem with seniors, I am 63 before I am accused of insensitivity, is that so many assume they should not have to pay for some needs. I have the idea that it is a bottomless pit for some and some who are well heeled. No matter what kind of benefit offered, they whine it is not 100 %. Or the press finds a few who will whine.
And with retirees getting younger and younger, the whining will escalate.
It has been shown over and over again, that government is not as effective, nor as efficient, as charity in providing for the basics of the truly needy. It is sad, but true, that charity is sometimes necessary to cover the needs of an unfortunate few in society. When government provides for all, however, the number of needy swells to an unmanageable many and all of society suffers.
I sure wish someone else would pay my mortgage payment every month, and my electric bill, and maybe a new car would be nice, too! </sarcasm>
My dear old mom pays a kid to mow her yard $200 a month, instead of asking her good for nothing grandson who is a leach at age 30, lives with her, pays no rent...
But she thinks she shouldn't have to pay $300 to have a tooth pulled. I can't afford the $200 a month to have someone mow my yard. And her grandson SHOULD be doing it FOR HER!
Bunch of lazy liberals in my family.
I don't know how anyone can make up their minds about this since there isn't anything final about what will be covered. I read the publication sent out telling me that someday the providers will put out a list of drugs to be covered and conditions. Even the most favorable situation will help us only a small amount. And we spend a lot of money on drugs, even those we get from Canada.
hahaha. I understand completely!
Liberalism. Now there's a disease I would support government spending to cure.
I wish our Goverment would spend more money on our seniors than on frikkin 3rd world terrorists like the palis.The money we send them could more than cover our elderlys medicinal needs. Our people deserve it much more.
Not at the rate they proomise to spend it. The real costs of this program are stunning. It dwarfs total projected debt, and dwarfs total projected M3. Microsoft Excel projected spending in the single year of 2083 is projected to be over 5.6 million billion dollars, or 5.6 thousand trillion if you prefer, in 2004 dollars.
http://www.babylontoday.com/prescription_drug_benefit.htm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.