Posted on 02/11/2006 5:05:11 PM PST by Indy Pendance
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Saturday acknowledged problems in the start of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit for the elderly but said the government was working to fix them.
In his weekly radio address, he also insisted the program was a "good deal" for seniors and encouraged more to sign up.
Hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled Americans have run into difficulties getting their prescription drugs since the Medicare drug program began on January 1, and many were turned away empty-handed.
Several states stepped in to pay for the medications after people were not properly enrolled or were randomly assigned to plans that did not include the drugs they needed.
Bush said the program, which he has touted as a major modernization of a popular government program, was working well for many seniors.
"Still, when you make a big change in a program involving millions of people, there are bound to be some challenges, and this has been the case with the new drug coverage," he said.
"Some people had trouble the first time they went to the pharmacy after enrolling. Information for some beneficiaries was not transferred smoothly between Medicare, drug plans and the states," Bush said, adding that waiting times were far too long when people sought help.
The program, estimated to cost $678 billion over the next 10 years, relies on private insurers, pharmacies and other health care companies to provide drug coverage for Medicare's 42 million beneficiaries.
Some Democrats have linked some of the problems to what they say was the excessive influence of private insurers and pharmacies in shaping the legislation. They view it as an issue on which Bush's Republican allies may be vulnerable in the run-up to the November congressional elections.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a New York Democrat, said at a hearing this month the best way to fix the problems might be to scrap the program and start over.
Many seniors have found the choices among an array of private companies bewildering, while some poor people have had a hard time switching from state-based drug assistance plans to Medicare.
Bush said Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has been traveling to several states to meet with governors about the drug benefit. He said officials were trying to make sure more information is shared by Medicare, the health plans and the states, and that it is up-to-date.
"We're making good progress," Bush said.
Mark for the discussion.
It's been less than 45 days. Every new program has glitches.
I have nothing against our senior citizens, but I have a big beef with us becoming a nanny state to the Nth-degree.
This is opening the flood gates for pharmaceutical companies to clean us to the bone.
My experience. It was a bear getting enrolled. I think I spent two months studying plans and trying to get one going (Humana). Humana's servers could not keep up so we had to listen to an endless series of statements and say yes to them. We had no choice, really. The former plan cost $300 per month for drugs under Medicare and did not have a D plan to join.
Then I had to unjoin the drug plan for my wife. That was also tedious and taking place in late December. Humana said the best time to phone was just before they closed each day, 11 PM. The other plan was just as bad in getting an intelligent contact. One illiterate answered the phone and said, "Your wife has not been in the plan for two years." Strange, I was being billed a hefty sum each month for the plan she wasn't in. And the plan she wasn't in was paying the bills.
Current experience. The first day Humana did not register on the drugstore computer, so I billed the old plan, which still worked. The D took over. My wife has a lot of prescriptions so there are a lot of $30 and $60 co-pays. Overall it is costing us less in January than it did last year. We got the hefties plan Humana offered and it seemed more inclusive than the others.
One essayist thought that Medicare D in introducing competition will change things for the better. I am no expert. I favor competition in all areas of our socialized medicine, but I believe government intervention will continue to make a mess of it.
I'm looking for an INCENTIVE to stay OFF "drugs."
I agree, the gov shouldn't be in the medical/insurance/retirement business at all.
I'm looking for an INCENTIVE to stay OFF "drugs."
Ahhhhhhhh!
The refreshing breeze of common sense.
The problem is, it's there, and it'll take a long time to get rid of those programs.
Medicare should be phased out.
I couldn't agree more, this is going to be disaster.
I don't know what all the complaining is about. I am 70 and I took the best program I could get. It cost a few more dollars a month than I was paying. But who cares. I am sure the ones complaining are willing to pay a higher price for beer and designer shoes. Most women will pay for a special $100.00 make up and never blink an eye. So what, enjoy your wealth and pay your way.
And, don't forget, our grandchildren will help pay for anything we get.
I don't want my grandchildren to pay for my drugs.
The 65+ population own about 67% of our nations wealth, yet they want hand outs. If you have failed to save enough to live on, that is not a problem our grandchildren should have to pay for.
I have a lot more I could say, but I will get a blast for this.
On the bright side...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576781/posts
I can't fault you, you are just using what's being offered. Nevertheless, it should never have been implemented. Our governemnt shouldn't be in this type of business.
We all know how expert the gubamint is at "fixing things". ;-)
So should social security. We should expect smaller government. I'm really getting tired of this socialist nation. And it's only getting worse.
And who exactly do you suggest will get rid of it? The Democrats? They'll just expand it more. The Republicans? Don't make me laugh. Until a third party becomes viable (which it eventually will if not for anything but necessity) neither one of the government's parties will dare touch this.
But keep voting Republican. Remember...they're the ones for limited government.
Elect me as your dictator for 12 months. I'll clean up big government!
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