Schumer backs Sanders push on drug prices, lowering Medicare age

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in an interview published Friday that he supports measures to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, as well as lowering the Medicare eligibility age and creating a public health insurance option.

The comments from Schumer give important backing to a push from progressives, who have been calling for a range of major health reforms from President Biden, including in his next major economic package, which he laid out for Congress during a joint address on Wednesday night.

Schumer specifically pointed to conversations he has had with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

"Bernie Sanders and I agree on this," Schumer told The.Ink. "I believe we should be negotiating - we just talked about this at some length; he and I must talk almost every single day - Medicare negotiating with the drug companies and using that money to expand Medicare."

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/schumer-backs-sanders-push-on-drug-prices-lowering-medicare-age/ar-BB1genrr?li=BBnbfcQ&ocid=DELLDHP

[George II]

1. I guess they watched President Biden's speech on Wednesday night.

[LizBeth]

4. HRC 2016, Warren and Biden now, yes. Not like it is not the the Democratic base touting this,

or something, right?

[speak easy]

12. Or HRC in 2016. This was the policy she took to the GE.

[ShazamIam]

2. Lowering the Medicare age will lower the price of insurance from the exchanges. If the age is

lowered to 50-50 Medicare, designed for more chronically and seriously ill which include SS Disability enrolled.

There is a growing problem with Medicare though, the cost of the supplemental policies and the amount required to be paid out of pocket including the cost of the supplemental policies are going up every year.

I know several; 65+ people who essentially have no medical coverage because they can't afford the supplemental policies and Medicaid is a poor substitute especially in red states, but really in all states. Medicaid, means, not much if any care.

Medicare alone requires a substantial co-pay if you don't have a supplemental policy and forget anything that needs hospitalization.

[Sherman A1]

5. I have a supplemental policy

For which I pay nothing more than the Medicare premium. Shopping around at enrollment time is something everyone should do.

[ShazamIam]

6. Not really possible when only one company offers coverage in the county you happen to live in.

It is common in CA, I have looked through one of my friend's Medicare book for the last few years as she tries to find something she can afford. Yes, there are HBO plans, but those plans are not available everywhere.
She can't afford what is offered and knows Medicaid/Medical means, don't bother trying to find a doctor.

[True Blue American]

7. Same here, Al!

[TxGuitar]

22. Supplemental or Medicare Advantage?

Last edited Sat May 1, 2021, 12:05 PM - Edit history (1)

These are 2 different things and I have never heard of a supplemental plan that is free. (Mrs. TxGuitar and RN Medicaid/Medicare case manager for many years)

[True Blue American]

24. Medicare Advantage

And am now wishing they lower the age for Medicare.

[TxGuitar]

21. Are you sure

That you don't have a Medicare Advantage plan, which is completely different than a supplemental plan? A supplemental plan is designed to work with traditional Medicare and I have never heard of one that doesn't cost. If you have one that doesn't cost extra, can you please share?

[LizBeth]

3. HRC started th4e conversation in 2016 with the push and Sanders said not good enough But yes,

lets implement HRC progression forward.

[murielm99]

8. Yes.

1,000 for HRC.

[betsuni]

9. Hillary Clinton said Medicare negotiating drug prices was one of her "highest priorities"

and of course she wanted Medicare at 55 and a public option.

This was "establishment" or whatever in 2016 but now "progressive"? It's like nobody remembers anything.

[LizBeth]

10. Right? Blows my mind who gets credit, again..... Being old myself,

I actually paid attention to this issue. Priority for me too. Hands down HRC was right and most doable and help so so so so many of us. And that was not good enough. I remember conversations about it as I was desperately talking about what would happen if Trump got it. Now I am getting a little pissed, lol. I came in to edit, cause I started remembering.

[betsuni]

14. Remembering all the bullshit and stupidity enrages me.

I want Hillary to write her real memoir, "Fuck All Y'all."

There's a great book discussing the populists waving around their arms yelling lies at us: Steven Stoft's "Ripped Apart, How Democrats Can Fight Polarization to Win." It's available online, Google books. Especially good are chapters 18 and 23. Liked the book so much I bought a copy.

[LizBeth]

15. +1. Thanks

[AZLD4Candidate]

11. What does King of the Senate Joe Manchin say?

Since he feels he can dictate the Democratic agenda. I'm sure he will say and vote no.

Mr. Schumer, it is time to put the senator from West Virginia in line with our party and not the other party.

[Wounded Bear]

13. Negotiating drug prices for Medicare Part D is a no-brainer...

only a stupid, greedy goper will oppose that.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

16. That's Bernie! Leading the way!

[LizBeth]

17. Except facts tells us he was the road block in the past. So, no.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. Not true!

[betsuni]

19. It's like "Back to the Future"!

[LizBeth]

23. Right.

[riversedge]

20. glad to see this