Posted on 12/22/2005 9:53:01 AM PST by libertarianPA
WASHINGTON - About 21 million people will begin receiving benefits through Medicare's prescription drug program in January, officials said Thursday, a figure that exceeded the government's expectations but only includes about 1 million who voluntarily chose to enroll.
The rest were either enrolled automatically by the government, or they will receive benefits through their private health care plans. Medicare opened enrollment in the program on Nov. 15; it ends May 15.
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt told reporters that the government expects to sign up between 28 and 30 million people for the benefit during its first year. Medicare provides health care to 42 million older and disabled Americans.
"We're encouraged by the early results," Leavitt said. "You'll find you'll save money and you'll never have to worry about high drug costs in the future."
The government's figures are as of Dec. 13. Another 500,000 people are expected to enroll in January, officials said.
Critics have complained about a confusing array of choices for seniors signing up for the program. The programs are managed by private insurance companies that contract with the federal government; the government pays some of the drug costs. Additional subsidies are available for low-income people.
The federal government estimates that it will spend about $724 billion over 10 years to provide the benefit.
DRUGS FOR SENIORS PAID BY THEIR GRANDKIDS AND GREAT GRANDKIDS. PATHETIC. REPEAL IT NOW.
And if you've got questions about how the benefits work, just ask. I work for a PBM, and it's one of the plans we're handling.
I have been helping my 76 year old mother figure this out and here is what we have come up with....she will pay a monthy fee for her contract(anywhere from 40-70$) there is a deductable and a co-pay and it will only cover up to 2400$ and then they cover nothing until she has spent 3600$ then they pick up again.....figuring it out....it really doesn't save my mother a dime it just rearranges the money but the kicker is that the elderly are basically being scared into signing on..they are told that if they don't pick a program and sign on now(whether they need it or not) they will be heavily penalized later to sign on.
Basically I don't see how this is costing the government so much considering its basically the government pushing the elderly into signing on with independant insurance companies such as bc/bs.
Typical governmental benefit.
It almost boils down to if it's Tuesday and not raining, you're co-pay is $nnn.nn; if it's raining, the co-pay is half of $nnn.nn but a 15% surcharge is tacked on; if it is Wednesday and raining, there is no co-pay but a user's fee of 1/5 of the total amount of the drugs will be added to the cost . . . . and on and on and on.
I'm trying to figure the damn plans out and so far, I'm just confused.
It's a brilliant blend of government benefits largesse partnered with corporate welfare under the "privatization" ruse.
Lobbyists in the HC and Drug industries bribed politicians big time to get this abomination through Congress.
"Free" health care is next... mark my words. If Hillary is elected in '08 (god forbid) it will come sooner than later. Even if the Republicans still hold both houses then, this whole thing doesn't bode well that they'll quash HillaryCare like they did in '94.
See your freepmail.
If eligibles don't sign up (or are not currently covered by a private drug policy), they will be penalized at 1% per month if/when they do sign up at some future date.
If they never sign up -- it is voluntary -- the penalty is moot. The drug coverage (Part D) has no effect on the parts A and B coverage.
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The mass confusion is from the many provisions of the multiple private insurance offerings. The Arkansas list has around 20 different drug insurance offerings from a dozen different insurance companies. The premiums range from a low of around $11 to nearly $100. Some cover the $250 deductible, some don't. Some have copays for a specific list of generics, some don't -- the insurance pays for most generics.
All my mother's friends and her are confused. I have been trying to help them also. Actually, Medicare is the one scaring them, they all got letters stating that if they Don't choose a plan one will be chosen for them. I went to the www.medicare.gov site and it says the same thing. Absolutely no help.
In 2000 when I voted for him, I never thought Bush would pave the way for nationalization of our health care system. But by 2004, I was pretty sure he and the republicans would move us in that direction faster than Hillary could hope.
That policy relates to the auto-enrolled benes.
Amen to that! I wouldn't be surprised if more liberals voted for Republicans in '06. They're getting better results since the dems' War on Poverty in the 60s.
Thanks!
The Medicare drug benefit was not around when these old farts were paying for their SS/Medicare benefits. They paid into an older system that did not have this designed for them. This is a NEW entitlement that is being given to them, at the cost of younger taxpayers. Your argument would be valid if all that existed today were the SAME SS/Medicare systems that these old farts paid into when they actually worked, but that isn't the case, so your argument falls flat on its face.
To use your insurance analogy, what you're arguing is the equivalent of someone paying into a health insurance program for 50 years, but then getting additional insurance benefits handed to them after they stop paying into the system, at the cost of current insurance payers. That doesn't make sense.
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