Only 5 days into the year and already glitches with the new Medicare!

[LynneSin]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/13553121.htm

Medicare glitches keep some from getting drugs
Program's start frustrates seniors, pharmacies.

By John Sullivan
Inquirer Staff Writer

When David Ogle went to get the pills he has taken for years to smooth his heartbeat and lower his cholesterol, he left empty-handed. Chalk it up to the Medicare drug program that began this week.

The huge federal plan was supposed to make drugs cheaper for many seniors and disabled people. And it still may. But Sunday's start-up created discouraging snafus for many patients and tense scenes at pharmacies across the region.
This is a... fiasco. The pharmacies are going nuts, and we can't get our drugs," said Ogle, of Rosemont.

Across the region and the country, patients and pharmacists gave mixed reviews to the most sweeping change to Medicare in decades. Many patients complained that they could not get their medications, while pharmacists said they were often unable to verify customers' coverage.

Ogle, 69, said he had given up trying to fill his prescription after spending much of yesterday trying to prove he is covered. His pharmacy told him that he could pay the full amount and try to get reimbursed. Ogle said missing the pills for a few days would not threaten his life.

[nickyt]

1. I was at my locally-owned drugstore Tuesday, asked the folks

working there, "how's this Medicare deal working out?"
"It's a nightmare", I was told. "Nobody knows how this is supposed to work, including us, and it's a total nightmare."

[daleanime]

2. It's disgusting...

how we treat(or maybe don't treat) our own citizens.

[Serial Mom]

3. what has dubya touched that HASN'T been a fiasco??

for over 5 years now, same shit, different day with them!

:grr:

[Hobarticus]

4. Bethca the money trail back to the drug co's is smooth as silk...n/t

[asjr]

6. The trail is littered with flowers and candy. The Pharms

doubled, and in some cases tripled, the price of their drugs right before this Medicare-Damn program went into effect.

[SCDem]

5. For many people skipping a day of drugs hampers the effectiveness

of that specific drug forever.

[SoCalDem]

7. People need to start calling their doctors' offices and reporting

the fact that they can no longer get/afford the meds that are prescribed..They should also start calling the neswpapers ansd their congresscritters.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

8. What do you mean? The plan worked perfectly

They passed something so they could brag about it to get reelected, and it wouldn't go into effect until it was too late to vote them out.

:sarcasm:

[Bellamia]

9. Didn't join up.........

and today my RX was $10.00 more than when I last filled it.
It would cost me more in the Plan than to be private pay. And a big question is: Where, initally, is the money coming from to support the insurance companies payouts.? Maybe from increasing cost of drugs???? Like with my RX???????