Medicare should cover cost of coronavirus vaccine, Schumer says

[CatWoman]

Source: NY Post

Sen. Chuck Schumer called on Sunday for the coronavirus vaccine currently in the works to be fully covered by Medicare and made available to senior citizens as part of the upcoming federal legislation to fight what is possibly becoming a global pandemic.

“The novel coronavirus shows us it’s critical to make vaccines available to susceptible groups quickly. The more you dither, the more people delay, the more people say ‘I don’t know if I’ll be able to come up with the money’ the greater the danger of the coronavirus spreading.” Schumer said.

Vaccinating seniors will help deter the spread of the virus among the rest of the population, Schumer said, adding that the elderly shouldn’t have to “make the choice between shelling out and going without.”

“I think all vaccines should be covered by Medicare because they save the overall health system money. But that’s a bigger and longer fight,” Schumer said during a press conference at his Manhattan office on 3rd Avenue. “To have this vaccine covered needs to be done immediately.”

The White House asked Congress for $2.5 billion for its effort to stem the spread of the virus and treat people who may become infected, while Schumer proposed allocating $8.5 billion.

The senator said the emergency spending bill could be unveiled as early as Monday or Tuesday, and hopes that it will pass the House and Senate within the next two weeks.

Read more: https://nypost.com/2020/03/01/medicare-should-cover-cost-of-coronavirus-vaccine-schumer-says/

[dweller]

1. wonder what McTurtle

will do with
that bill?
Grim Reaper that he is...
🤔

✌🏼

[LakeArenal]

2. Medicare doesn't cover the Shingles vaccine.

[CatWoman]

3. Shingles isn't Coronavirus

and I don't recall Trump admin saying Shingles vaccine won't be available to all income levels either

[LakeArenal]

5. No it's going to be a hell of a lot more expensive.

But vaccines should be all readily and cheaply available.

[Bengus81]

19. I had a mild/moderate case of shingles last fall....

There were days I wished I was DEAD. Go ask anyone who's had a full blown severe case of shingles and see what they say.

[progree]

6. That surprised me. But ur right, original Medicare doesn't cover it, whereas Part D does

https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-qa-tool/does-medicare-cover-shingles-shot/

Unlike some common vaccines, like those for the flu, hepatitis B and pneumonia, shingles shots are not covered under Medicare Part B, the component of original Medicare that includes doctor visits and outpatient services. Part A, which deals with hospital costs, doesn’t cover shingles shots either.

Medicare coverage for Shingrix and Zostavax, the two commercially available shingles vaccines, is provided only if you are enrolled in a stand-alone Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D drug coverage.

Medicare requires Part D plans to cover the shingles vaccine, so if you’re enrolled in Part D, you shouldn’t have difficulty obtaining the shot. Most require a copayment, which can vary widely from plan to plan.

Everybody in Medicare should get Part D, either directly or as part of a Medicare Advantage Plan (most of which include Part D). Drug costs are just too big to face alone.

And people should be aware that putting off getting Part D until one needs it is not a money saver -- the late enrollment penalty adder (which is added to one's Part D premiums every month for life) sums up to more over one's life expectancy than the cost of a part D plan during the early years when one might not need it, at least in my case.

[LakeArenal]

8. I know from experience.

[progree]

9. Me too. (I had/have Part D and apparently you don't/didn't). If you had Part D and it wasn't

covered, then something got screwed up.

Anyway its important that people who have Medicare Part D know that it is covered (though like AARP article says, there usually is a copayment that varies widely from plan to plan). Not having a Part D plan is like being a riverboat gambler, considering the wildly high and rapidly inflating cost of drugs.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. My Medicare Advantage plan through United Healthcare

didn't cover it last year. I'm on a Humana plan this year and I haven't checked if it covers it yet.

[progree]

11. Not all Medicare Advantage plans include Part D coverage. Most do, but not all.

[TexasBushwhacker]

12. Mine covers drugs without paying extra

Copays are free to $10.

[LakeArenal]

14. I had AARP United Health and it was not covered

My Husband had Anthem Blue Shield and his was covered.

So much for AARP. I have to pay $250 if I want it.

[klook]

4. Excellent.

Maybe even The Grim Reaper will see the wisdom of this, in an election year that is.

[SunSeeker]

7. Of course it should. It is unconscionable to not cover the vaccine. nt

[Ponietz]

13. A no brainer

Without this measure the costs to Medicare will be astronomical.
Our for-profit health care industry sees a growth opportunity here.

[lostnfound]

15. No. Homeland Security should cover it. Or insurance companies as a public service for all

Defend the dang country already.

And if nothing is done with vaccines for ALL, insurance companies will be going bankrupt over extended ICU visits for their insured patients.

[duforsure]

16. Moscow Mitch will prevent people from getting the vaccine

From orders from trump to use it as a weapon to hurt people with it like trump does with everything else . That's why they politicize it then claim that's what Democrats are doing, to project against the Democrats , and to con their supporters with it, and lying to the American people. If its contained like trump claimed why do they have to do anything else now, lol. Because he lied again. Way to go Brownie.

[Vinca]

17. The vaccine should be free for everyone.

[moriah]

18. Why are we talking about a vaccine that hasn't even started development...

.... and given community spread in one large city already, is not likely to be available by the time it's needed?

Recent research has shown a specific genetic difference between the virus that causes this disease and the virus that causes SARS -- explaining both why it is more infectious, AND giving a treatment mechanism for the viral pneumonia it can cause.

Chinese researchers said drugs targeting the furin enzyme could have the potential to hinder the virus’ replication in the human body. These include “a series of HIV-1 therapeutic drugs such as Indinavir, Tenofovir Alafenamide, Tenofovir Disoproxil and Dolutegravir and hepatitis C therapeutic drugs including Boceprevir and Telaprevir”, according to Li’s study.

Which means right now Kaletra (lopinavir and ritonavir) is being repurposed right now, because it's a combination, available, and being donated by a pharmaceutical company hoping to prove the drug works on the viral pneumonias.

We need to figure out which ones do work, if any, in a far more controlled manner, AND we need to ensure the ones that do work are not subject to price-gouging in order to treat patients who develop a viral pneumonia after being exposed to SARS-CoV-2.

----

Oh, and test kits. Please, test kits.

[area51]

20. How 'bout free for everyone,

especially since it's going to be developed with our tax dollars, just like all the other drugs.