Dammit! Medicare recipients could face 7% increase in costs next year

[WePurrsevere]

So far it looks like it may be an increase only in the Rx plan cost (why does the term bait and switch come to mind?) but ANY increase when money is tight already will hurt seniors and the disabled on Medicare. Even if they give us a COLA increase latter this Fall (which won't kick in until Jan of the next year) they often take away a big chunk of it to pay for Medicare so we don't see any major increase in benefits to help pay ever increasing living expenses. Also.. from January until January all seniors and the disabled can do is wait for what will hopefully be a benefit increase as our already low standard of living slowly goes down as our limited dollar stretches less and less.

::sigh:: I know we should be thankful for the help we get but many of us on limited income such as SS are frightened and worried about how we'll be able to pay our taxes, buy groceries, drive to see our loved ones and heat our homes when working a regular full time job is not an option for many of us. :(

Anyway... sorry for the mini rant... here's a snippet from the story I ran across while looking for recent Congressional pay raise info...

Friday, April 21, 2006

<snip>

For the drug program, the increase guideline for next year -- 6.86 percent -- means the $250 annual deductible could rise to $265. Premiums and co-payments might also change.

<snip>

"I don't see how (Medicare) can get away with saying it's a wash," said David Lipschutz, an attorney with California Health Advocates, a nonprofit group that advises Medicare recipients. "The plans might use different mechanisms, but they are going to bring costs up for people."

<snip>

"The greater impact could be on low-income people," Neuman said.

More at link: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/04/21/MNG04ICOVD1.DTL