Bush's Prescreption Drug Program, ?

[RandFan]

My mother in law and parents are both struggling right now. My parents just lost their home and my father has no savings. My mother-in-law has a negative cash flow and is supported by her children.

My mother and my parents don't qualify for the program. Who does? What purpose is the program? It sounded great when I first heard about it but now I'm beginning to think the critics were right.

Does anyone know the truth? Is the program really just a give away to the drug companies?

 

[President Bush]

My mother in law and parents are both struggling right now. My parents just lost their home and my father has no savings. My mother-in-law has a negative cash flow and is supported by her children.

My mother and my parents don't qualify for the program. Who does? What purpose is the program? It sounded great when I first heard about it but now I'm beginning to think the critics were right.

Does anyone know the truth? Is the program really just a give away to the drug companies?

Amazing medical technologies are improving and saving lives. As a result, almost four million of the country's senior citizens are hopelessly addicted to pharmaceuticals like nitroglycerin, Dilaudid and ibogaine. Yes, according to a recent report by the National Council On Drug Abuse, as many as 3,750,000 Americans over the age of 60 may be dependent on Medicare-provided prescription dope. And more than 2.9 million drug-related errors adversely affect older Americans each year, often resulting in rush trips to the emergency room, expensive hospitalization and, subsequently, the potential decline of a senior citizen’s independence. In the past, we, as a people, have enabled this through the billions of dollars we give to programs like Medicare. This, in turn, has brought its own challenge, in the rising costs of medical care and health insurance.

But, starting in January of 2006, for a monthly premium of about $14,535 dollars, seniors can get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. Under this reform, senior citizens will be able to keep their Medicare just as it is or they can choose a Medicare plan that fits Merck best.

 

[peptoabysmal]

My mother in law and parents are both struggling right now. My parents just lost their home and my father has no savings. My mother-in-law has a negative cash flow and is supported by her children.

My mother and my parents don't qualify for the program. Who does? What purpose is the program? It sounded great when I first heard about it but now I'm beginning to think the critics were right.

Does anyone know the truth? Is the program really just a give away to the drug companies?

Are they on Medicare? That's who this affects.
The info is here:
http://www.medicare.gov/pdphome.asp

 

[RandFan]

Are they on Medicare? That's who this affects.
The info is here:
http://www.medicare.gov/pdphome.asp

Thanks Pepto. I really thought both my parents and mother in law would be covered. They are both strugling with prescription bills. I guess not.

 

[Bikewer]

Seniors must pick between some 41 different plans which offer differing levels of benifits, different co-pays and deductibles, and different drugs which may be covered.
The suppliers are free to change the plans after the individual signs up...

The application process is complex, according to health-care types I've listened to on the radio, and may be well beyond elderly folks with the beginnings of dementia or Alzhiemers.

 

[casebro]

There is a means test for the prescxription benefit. About like for welfare. If you have any life savings left, you don't qualify. House, car, personal belongings OK, but minimal cash. Plus, minimal retirement required, about $14,000/ year. I qualify on income, but have some cash- not enough to buy a house though, I don't have 'earnings' to make the payments. If you qualify for the drug benefit, you already qualify for welfare, and they pay some of your costs, don't they? Me and Randfan's folks all fall through the gaps.

 

[Renfield]

My mother in law and parents are both struggling right now. My parents just lost their home and my father has no savings. My mother-in-law has a negative cash flow and is supported by her children.

My mother and my parents don't qualify for the program. Who does? What purpose is the program? It sounded great when I first heard about it but now I'm beginning to think the critics were right.

Does anyone know the truth? Is the program really just a give away to the drug companies?

Its complicated and confusing, and there is a lot of false information out there. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=32519 Not to mention its also going to be expensive. In fact, the Republicans actually banned the government agencies from negotiating with the drug companies for lower drug prices. And the insurance is going to be handled by private companies. I thing they, and the drug companies, are the only ones who really like it.