Dems Slam 'Disastrous' Medicare Drug Program

Marketwatch ^ | March 25, 2006 | Marion Berry

[SierraWasp]

Well all I have to say to all the snivelers on here is... Ya don't hafta do anything!!! You'll NEVER pay ANY penalty if you don't sign up for ANY part of "Part D!" You can then buy you own prescription medication freely without either the government, or any evil insurance or drug manufacturerer capitalizing on your fear and ignorance!!!

It's just that simple! If you think it sucks, you DO NOT need to get involved and can do like those who don't pay the $88 per month for "Part B," either and pay their own Medical Doctor bills. You ARE FORCED to be in "Part A," but you are NOT FORCED to contribute any part of the cost!!!

So don't you snivelers get all wrapped around the axle about ANY of this because if you don't like it, you can just opt out. Therefore, NO ONE should care what your ill conceived opinion is, in any event!!! Speekinout is right, even though his screen name is spelled incorrectly!!! (grin)

[bremenboy]

AMEN!

[SierraWasp]

Well, you keep doing good for people, no matter what anybody says from their screw-up perspective! Do good anyway!!!

[okiecon]

I excerpted because I was unsure about the copyright, how conservative of me!

[SierraWasp]

It's ok. And yes, that was conservative of you, however, the FR system has an automatic control that will force you to excerpt if it is actually necessary. But that's ok, we didn't need to read all the childish drivel of this lamebrain Liberal trying to add to the Democrap's full-court-press (a little March Madness Lingo for ya) against everything the Bush administration has accomplished in spite of "the new tone in Warshington!" Ha Ha Ha !!!

[LZ_Bayonet]

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 ?

Part D experts: Doesn't the column that says something like "% of drugs in this company formulary" come into play regarding this question? As I recall, my Mother's company had 95% in their formulary.

Thanks to the experts who answered, at least with an option, what you do if one day you are prescribed an additional drug that is not in the formulary (i.e. switch companies during new enrollment period).

Also, if there was going to be a Medicare Drug Plan, I am glad that it happened during a Republican administration because of the competitive aspects of involving private companies.

[RS]

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

LOL- If your next post #41 conveys the attitude you've acquired while "helping" people for decades, I can see why these are so screwed up.

[RS]

"Also, if there was going to be a Medicare Drug Plan, I am glad that it happened during a Republican administration because of the competitive aspects of involving private companies."

Yep, but when the Dems get control again ( Damn wheel always keeps turning ) they will simply require all plans to cover everything, then get to trumpet that they "straigntened it out ".

If we're going to do it, it should have been done right so that they can't take any credit for it.

[SierraWasp]

Somehow, I just KNEW you'd miss the point of that reply entirely!!! That was directed at the Libertarians who scream about being forced to pay a tax out of their paychecks to pay for Mr. Forbes, or Mr. Perot's hospital and most of his Doctor bills!!!

Those rich dudes don't pay the piddlin $88 to Part B, that doesn't even begin to pay the total cost of Part B!!! And they certainly don't care about the Part D plans AT ALL!!! So any of us middle class anti-government types that want to be included OUT of B & D can chose not to participate in those coverages.

Of course not participating in Part B will help the government in providing you and me that coverage if they don't want to take advantage of it. You're an activist on a vendetta and you really thought you had me there, din'tcha?!?! Ha Ha Ha !!!

[RS]

"Somehow, I just KNEW you'd miss the point of that reply entirely!!! That was directed at the Libertarians who scream...."

Oh OK ... I get it ... your thoughts and replys change depending on who they are directed at, and what your opinion of what you assume to be their politics are.

Have to give you credit, I could never keep that straight - so much simpler to have one opinion on a matter and stick to it.

[SierraWasp]

"...so much simpler to have one opinion on a matter and stick to it."

Yes, that's what happens to most single issue types who think of nothing but simplifying their complex lives. They usually turn to FundaMentalism and become suckers to the FundaMentalist Evangelistas like Jimmy Swaggert... Kinda like the GovernMentalist EnvironMentalist who worship at the simpler alter of Paganism, don'tcha know?

And so it goes... on and on!!!

[bremenboy]

**Thanks to the experts who answered, at least with an option, what you do if one day you are prescribed an additional drug that is not in the formulary (i.e. switch companies during new enrollment period). ***

That would be one choice however all plan cover all categories of drugs except those prohibited by Medicare.

example you go to the doctor and the doc decides that you need to be on a cholesterol drug like Crestor your plan doesn't have Crestor in the formulary but is contains Lipotor. You have a choice to take the one that is not in the formulary or ask your doctor to put you on the one that is. This is why you need to check your meds with the formulary before you sign up. Going from one drug that you are on to anthotor may not be as easy. But if you are going to a new med to begin with then take the one that is in the formulary already.

The Formulary is one of the ways the insurance company can help keep cost down if a drug company wants their drug in the list then they must lower the cost or offer rebates.

[LZ_Bayonet]

Thank you! That question (a new drug prescribed) came to mind and I did a lot of surfing looking for an answer I never found. I also tried calling Humana, but the phone line was always busy.

Then I said, "The heck with it! The government is putting out most of the money for this Part D stuff. Who cares how much this stuff costs!" ;-)