Dems Slam 'Disastrous' Medicare Drug Program

Marketwatch ^ | March 25, 2006 | Marion Berry

[okiecon]

Rep. Marion Berry: Good morning. I'm Congressman Marion Berry of Arkansas, a senior citizen, a pharmacist, and someone who has spent the past five years trying to give the American people an acceptable Medicare prescription drug benefit. I have fought alongside my Democratic colleagues to put seniors first and I have watched with complete amazement as the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress forced a disastrous prescription drug scheme on America's greatest generation.

[TC Rider]

My Dad's a WWII vet and the VA ships him every drug he needs. My Mom pays BC/BS $50/month and gets all her meds.

They're happy with the new plan. They're 86/83 and both take heart meds and God knows what else.

[speekinout]

I already have access to a "private plan."

You may. Retirees from gov't and a few major corps do. But there are many retirees who don't. Encouraging private cos to give retirees access to private plans is a good idea.

BTW, I'm sorry that all of your education was for nought.

[Zeroisanumber]

Good election year attack, but the Dems can never follow it up with an IDEA THAT ACTUALLY WORKS!

[speekinout]

After stealing the money to pay for it from other people's children.

Yes, the current program does have gov't subsidies. But market economics might prevail, and the programs could be self-supporting. Who knows, but the private approach has a better chance than the Leftist gov't approach ever will.

[RS]

" Part D sends you to the private sector to choose the best plan for your individual circumstances."

But the problem is if you don't have any individual circumstaces at the present time - How do you guess what you may need in the future? - while they are threatening to fine you if you don't sign up for this private plan.

[Cobra64]

BTW, I'm sorry that all of your education was for nought.

Thanks for your condolences.

[Bonaparte]

I guess Berry would know all about "disastrous drug schemes," wouldn't he? In any sane society, this man would be locked up in a padded cell. Instead, he's elected to public office.

[Doohickey]

Sorry, but mossbacks don't "deserve" meds on my dime.

[Doohickey]

Don't feel like you have to apologize for taking advantage of the drug plan. I happen to think it should be repealed, but for now it's the law and there's no reason not to use it.

[speekinout]

But the problem is if you don't have any individual circumstaces at the present time - How do you guess what you may need in the future?

You don't have to guess. You can change plans every year. As long as you are covered by a plan, any plan, the fine (surcharge, really) doesn't apply.
If you don't have drug needs this year, you just sign up for the cheapest plan available. If you need more some years down the road, you can change with no penalty.

[bremenboy]

***But the problem is if you don't have any individual circumstaces at the present time - How do you guess what you may need in the future? - while they are threatening to fine you if you don't sign up for this private plan.*** Thats why its called Insurance. you need to decieded who much risk you will like to keep and how much risk you would like the insurance company to have.

what I would suggest to anyone who is in good health and needs to sign up to avoid the penalty is to sign up for the lowest basis plan should be under $20.00 a month in most states. Some under $10.00 this will give you a good plan.

please remember that you can switch plans each year during the annual enrollment that starts Nov.15, 2006-Dec.31,2006 For 2007

[Doe Eyes]

May I suggest that if Bush did not and the Pub Congress didn't pass it the Dems would have given them hell for that.

Just out of curiosity, do you support this legislation?

Are you proud the our President and Congress passed this?

[SierraWasp]

You are both entirely correct! I just dumbfounds me why all Democrat/Liberals think government should be the only insurance and now-a-days I'm finding more and more "CONservatives" on FR who are surrendering themselves to the same bassackward idiotology. It's getting frightening! I used to come here for solace!!!

[SierraWasp]

You don't really hafta "excerpt" what these left-over Lieberals from CBS MarketWatch.com keep propogandizing on what is now the Dow Jones owned MarketWatch.com. It's just pathetic!!! Put the whole thang up hyear so's we kin throw assorted fruits and rotten veggies at it for a compost heap!!!

[RS]

"please remember that you can switch plans each year during the annual enrollment that starts Nov.15, 2006-Dec.31,2006 For 2007"

Great, so one is forced to buy a private plan that may not cover what they may wind up needing, and if they roll the dice wrong they have to pay full rate for up to a year ?

... but someone who is allready sick now, can buy exactly what they need and start getting benefits immediately.

[speekinout]

dumbfounds me why all Democrat/Liberals think government should be the only insurance and now-a-days I'm finding more and more "CONservatives" on FR who are surrendering themselves to the same bassackward idiotology.

Agree. And I am amazed that our favorite talk show hosts agree that the gov't should be our insurers for everything. This Part D plan is the first one I've seen that tries to move us back to private ins. I'd think that Conservatives would applaud it, but no.....
BTW, I love your "idiotology" reference. :-)

[bremenboy]

I am a Health Insurance Agent and have enrolled over 200 people with medicare into the new drug plan.

Most people are very confused about the different plans. But once they have enrolled and now are beginning to see the benefit they are very happy with it. When someone says to me that the are very healthy and don't take any drugs so why get a plan. I simply ask them why are they paying almost $90.00 a month for part B ? of course they answer that they need that in case they get sick. Then I of course reply that if they get sick most likely they will need drugs.

Sad but true the people that I have found who complain the most about the program or scheme as the Dem's would say are the low income who get the most out of the plan. for them they have no premium no deductible and a low copay between $2 and $5 dollars each. yet they just keep on complain on how much they got to spend on drugs.

[zarf]

Just out of curiosity, do you support this legislation?

No. Bad legislation.

My point was the Democrats were holding this over the Pubs head and would have bashed them if they didn't pass it. Of course now, they found religion and oppose it.

It's the same story with homeland security. Bush's instinct was against the creation of DHS. He gave in due to the political pressure after 9/11.

The Dems have no postions, only political posturing.

[bremenboy]

Great, so one is forced to buy a private plan that may not cover what they may wind up needing, and if they roll the dice wrong they have to pay full rate for up to a year ?


you are not forced to buy any plan. and the lowest cost plan in a very good one that also happen to be a good choice for even those who take a lot of meds.

I don't know what you mean by paying full rate the government is pay about 75% of the cost on the base plan that covers 75% of your drug cost after a 250 deductible and before you hit the gap and 95% after.

[SierraWasp]

I understand... I've been helping older people with health coverages since before Medicare ever go signed into law by LBJ!!!