Medicare Drug Premiums Will Rise for Many

[OhioChick]

Bush and the Democrats differ, but experts say many seniors who don't switch plans face hikes.
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Times Staff Writer
October 13, 2006


WASHINGTON — Two weeks after the Bush administration announced that Medicare prescription premiums would stay about the same next year, a new analysis by congressional Democrats indicates that for a majority of middle-class seniors, rates will jump 13% — well above the overall inflation rate.

In a sternly worded letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Los Angeles, accused the administration of "deceptive advertising."

Medicare Administrator Mark B. McClellan fired back with a statement calling the analysis by Waxman's Government Reform Committee staff "inaccurate and misleading."

But several independent experts said it is true that seniors using the most popular type of Medicare prescription coverage — a stand-alone drug plan — will face significant premium increases next year unless they switch to more economical plans that often come with more restrictions. The prescription drug benefit is overseen by the government but delivered by private insurance companies that offer a variety of plans with differing features and premiums.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-medicare13oct13,0,1773226.story?coll=la-home-nation

[whistle]

1. Another tax on the poor and seniors...."wake voters, time to die!"

[bananas]

2. Important! "for 2007, the open enrollment period will be about six weeks"

"For 2006, seniors had six months to pick a drug plan. But for 2007, the open enrollment period will be about six weeks, from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31. Medicare's computerized Plan Finder, which allows seniors to compare costs and coverage for plans, will have information on the 2007 offerings starting today. It is on the Internet at http://www.medicare.gov ."

[AzDar]

3. Just like everything else Gee Dubya has wrought: a clusterf&%k

[leftchick]

4. oh god this is so horrible

I see it every time I go to the pharmacy and it happened again last night. There was the sweetest old man (he reminded me of my Dad) in front of me paying for he and his wife's prescriptions and I listened in. His Rx cost one dollar and his wife's eye drops were $74.00, after his discount it came to a total of $50.00!!!!

He looked so sad and the gal helping him asked if he still wanted the drops, he said his wife had to have them and started writing a check. OMG, I started tearing up right there. Every single penny counts for these poor folks! I can not believe this is america.

:cry:

[Frustratedlady]

5. And the drops probably cost a couple bucks to make.

I know of elderly people who are still living on oatmeal so they can pay their prescription share. Sad thing is, many will probably stay home rather than vote. It's cold, the gas is high and they are so discouraged.

[Raster]

7. Yep, the drops only cost a few dollars to make. The R&D costs to create

those eye drops was heavily subsidized by the United States Government (YOU). The lobbying costs to make sure those drops don't go to generic anytime soon AND stay in heavy MediCare rotation are about $45.00 off of the bottom line. And don't forget the "new and improved" Medicare legislation passed by the rethuglican Congress SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDING government programs like Medicaid and Medicare from negotiating with drug companies for bulk drug prices like every other modern country on the planet. That's right. Only the United States has laws designed to protect price fixing by big Pharmacy. That's because the bush* administration and the rethuglican Congress allowed the number one contributor to their "war chests" to write legislation that favored itself. And this is not the first time the bush* administration and it's lapdog rethuglican congress allowed a corporate special interest to write their own laws.

[SnowGoose]

9. And oddly enough, the VA does negotiate drug prices.

If the Veteran's Administration can do it, why can't the medicare drug program do it?

Oh yea, right... for a second I forgot who the "president" is.

[Rose Siding]

6. The premiums change AND the coverage changes from year to year

It's a full time job just paying attention to your drug plan!

snip>
"Seniors are going to have to constantly reassess their coverage relative to their own health status and relative to what choices are being offered in the marketplace," said Mendelson, president of Avalere Health, a consulting firm. "These are commercial plans that change from year to year based on their experience, and the only way for seniors to navigate the marketplace effectively is to constantly reassess their options."

[Vinca]

8. Unless the insurance companies are reined in, they'll squeeze

seniors as much as they can bear and beyond. It's just like health insurance. The insurance companies are rolling in profits while people are dying for lack of affordable coverage. It's disgusting. Nothing would make me happier than universal health care that would put the whole lot of them out of business.

[Sapere aude]

10. Looks like the drug benefit was for the pharmaceutical companies.

[Raster]

11. Like I said in a previous post, big Pharma was allowed to "consult" in the

writing of the new Medicare regulations, which specifically FORBID Medicare from being able to negotiate for bulk pricing. SPECIFICALLY FORBID! Once again, this begs the eternal question when dealing with the bush* administration: who benefits?

[sarcasmo]

12. Kick to the top for our new two class system.

The Upper and lower class system.

[Megahurtz]

13. Just Say No To Drugs

and Big Corporate Pharma. Go Herbal and Alternative Health!