Seniors skeptical on Medicare law

The Boston Globe ^ | 4/5/04 | Stephen J. Glain

[mondoman]

BROOKLINE, Pa. - It's showtime at Elizabeth Seton Center in this well-groomed Pittsburgh suburb, and a feisty crowd of retirees is tuned in to an old favorite, Uncle Walter.

On display is a video presentation narrated by Walter Cronkite on the details of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, passed in December. For the seniors, the 13-minute video confirms what a growing number of them suspected: that the new law, muscled through the Republican-controlled Congress and embraced by the White House as an election-year vote-getter, is in reality a multibillion dollar giveaway to drug makers and health-care providers.

"I can't wait until November,'' said 82-year-old Frank Conti, who once

[mondoman]

My Dad (who lives in Massachusetts) attended one of these seminars and just called to rant about the medicare reform act; how it will hurt him and other seniors. I asked about the video (featuring Walter Cronkite) and who produced it-- Families USA.

Has anyone seen this video? Is there a rebuttal piece from those who support the reform (AARP). Who supports Families USA?

[mondoman]

Here is the URL for online viewing of the "Road Show"

http://www.familiesusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Medicare_Road_Show

[mondoman]

This is WHO makes up the board of Families USA. Is anyone familiar with their politics and financial support?

http://www.familiesusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AboutUs

[mondoman]

The PLOT thickens. I'd LOVE to see an overlay of this map with the swing states map for key counties and precincts.

http://www.familiesusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Medicare_Road_show_map

You have to hand it to our opposition, they can be quite good.

[mondoman]

PING

[mondoman]

thought you might like to comment

[mondoman]

FYI

[Maria S]

Anything Walter Cronkite demeans or discounts is probably o.k., IMO. He and the liberals (Clintons in particular) are tighter than ticks.

[My2Cents]

Of course they're skeptical. They've been hearing nothing but naysaying from the Democrats.

Yesterday I noted a news report from a commercial payer that the prescription discount cards will save seniors up to 35% on their drug costs this year. The skepticism probably comes in the fact that these reforms require some consumer cost-sharing, rather than pays 100% for benefits.

[kitkat]

.

[kitkat]

Well, the article is from the Boston Globe, and the URL is partly "usliberals", so what do we expect? IT'S BUSH'S FAULT. What else is new?

Since I'm an old coot (or is that cootess?), I'm allowed to comment as follows:

What stupid old coot said this?:

***"We talk about Iraq and other things when we get together,'' he said, "but among us seniors, health care is by far the most important issue.''***

So what good is his life if we have another 9/11? Good gosh, we're at WAR.

The writer has obviously gone to great lengths to quote only the idiots.