Seniors brace for pricier drug coverage in ’09: Medicare monthly plans could increase 63%

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Seniors brace for pricier drug coverage in ’09
Analysis: Medicare beneficiaries’ monthly plans could increase 63 percent

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27706459/

WASHINGTON - Robert Clark describes himself as a bit of a tightwad. So he's a little perplexed about the news from his Medicare drug plan. His monthly premium will rise from about $25 a month to about $41 a month next year. And his wife, June, will face the same increase.

Clark, of Cumming, Ga., emphasized he just wants to be treated fairly. "I've always been careful about my money," he said. "I don't understand why it has to double."

While the increase falls short of a doubling, it's clear the Clarks, as well as millions of other seniors and the disabled, face hefty premium increases next year for prescription drug coverage.

Among the top 10 drug plans in terms of enrollment, the average monthly premium will increase anywhere from 8 percent to 63.7 percent, according to an analysis from Avalere Health, a management consulting firm. At the same time, those plans are reducing the number of medicines that they'll cover by about 9 percent.

[aquart]

1. Oh, look! Thousands of dead elderly.

Ain't that just brilliant.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

2. My 82 yr old Mom

in NJ receives PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged & Disabled) which pays her monthly Part D premium and allows her to receive 90 day supplies of generics for $6, and 30 day supplies of brand name meds for $7. Without this program, which is funded by Casino revenue, she surely would have exhausted her retirement savings by now.

[pinstikfartherin]

3. Oh no!...

We already see so many people who can't afford their medicines or are choosing between food and medicine (I work for a hospice).

The elderly have it hard enough! We shouldn't be going into a home and finding that a patient's only meal has been the one they received at the local senior center at lunch time. They have made their contribution to society; they deserve 1,000 times better than what they are getting.

It breaks my heart more and more with every person I see or talk to dealing with such problems. :cry:

Luckily the people I work closest with are the type who really care and will do whatever it takes to help those they come across in need. But I just know too many people who are just plain selfish.

[silverojo]

6. You are so right

The elderly just get ripped off left and right, because of assholes who think social programs should be cut to "reduce wasteful spending".

Wal-Mart sucks, but the only way I can afford my Rx drugs is by getting them at Wally World for $4. I see a lot of elderly people there, as well, and government ripoffs like this are the reason why. :mad:

[Cresent City Kid]

4. Fix the real problem

The Medicare drug program, and efforts by drug companies to help people who can't afford medicine are designed to lock in excessive prices for everyone else. They claim their profits go to research, but instead go to state of the art CGI commercials, and hard-on pills. The seriousness of the disease is not proportional to the research funding. We're focussed on oil companies of late, while the pharmaceutical companies hold us hostage.

I don't know exactly what to do about this, but I know it will be an uphill climb as most problems that enrich people can be to solve.

[nancyr]

5. Oh God.

This is really going to hurt. A lot of us older folks live solely on Social Security, and it's not going to stretch far enough to cover all the rising costs of literally everything. I've been lucky to have a low-paying part-time job, but it won't last forever...and neither will I.

[Donnachaidh]

7. try a jump from $39 per month to $73 on a limited income

That's over 12% of the total check. And that doesn't take into consideration the donut hole, which tacks on another $3,000 cost per year.

And the pukes who pushed this through said the seniors could afford this??? They just didn't say for how LONG...

[lelgt60]

8. "They claim their profits go to research" (from Crescent City Kid post)

Crescent City Kid had this phrase in his post, and, I agree, that's what some Pharma companies say. Same for Big Oil with respect to exploration. The thing is, I've never understood this claim. Profit is what's left AFTER all expenses, INCLUDING research expenses.

There's no such thing as "profits went to R&D". Profits go to shareholders, period.

Now, excess cash can be invested in R&D, and accounting rules muddy the waters terribly. But, in the long run, profit is profit. It doesn't go to pay salaries, bonuses, or do research.

So, when you hear this statement, or any variant of "Yes our profits our high, but they need to be high in order to fund research", call bullshit.

[nichomachus]

9. Mine only went up 24%

But I'll be rolling in dough since I got a 5% increase in social security.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

10. Kick n/t