Below is a note from a friend in Colorado. She had breast cancer in 2000 and has been on many drugs. There are some severe problems with this drug plan. I learned a little more today and will post when I have definitive answers. Right now....the people trying to implement the program aren't really sure about some very important items. What a MESS!!!!
"Hi Bev: All that I have seen of Mr. Bushes medicare prescrip. plan so far only means that I will be paying dearly for my scripts from now on, as I have been on Patient Assistance programs with several of the drug companies and that will all end the first of the year. So with $250.00 deductable, and the fact that they will only cover the first $2300. of your scripts and after that we have to pay all of the cost it will cost me about $500. per month, so told R I will just quit taking all but my two heart pills and to heck with the rest. He feels that I am greatly over-medicated anyway, and perhaps his is right, who really knows."
Hi, bev. I'm sad to say that the Medicaid prescription plan is a mess. We taxpayers are bribing companies NOT to drop their retirees, but the number crunchers can play the numbers and find out they are better dropping people and knowing the government will pick them up.
I personally know about a dozen retiree families, including my dad, whose companies have dropped them from coverage as of 1/1/06. And they will all pay far more than they were paying under their retirement plans. AND, we taxpayers are going to pay far more.
It's one of the worst bills that's been passed in many years.
Sure does look like a mess.