Seniors, finding they save little, forgo drug cards

[jimbot]

Portland Press Herald Link

...
The cards offer savings similar to the 10 percent price break that many pharmacies give older customers, said Bob Morrissette of Pharmacy Group of New England, which represents independent pharmacies.

"So many people are choosing not to sign up for the card because they're not saving any money," he said. "And this was something touted big-time" by the federal government.

...
"My savings in Canada are a lot better than those cards," said Edna LaFlamme, 67, of Lewiston, who investigated the cards but decided against signing up for one.
...

[GainesT1958]

1. So are mine...

But she doesn't even have to pay shipping!:D

Ohhhhhh well..."Leave no Senior Behind", right, Dub?:eyes:

B-)

[moondust]

7. "Leave No Senior's Behind."

[Sugarbleus]

8. Wow, glad I dropped in here. Just got my medicare but not the

drug card. I won't bother now. Thanks for the headsup.

[gratuitous]

2. Why do those old geezers hate America so much?

Don't they know that by refusing to use the Medicare discount cards, they're hurting the troops' morale, and damaging the fight against terrorism?

Dammit, but it just makes my all American blood boil to see people acting in a way that they know is going to undermine our troops! How can our freckle-faced, star-spangled fightin' kids bomb a wedding, knowing that Great Aunt Gladys isn't saving 10% on her little brown pills???

[Tight_rope]

5. LMBAO....Discount card?...Better off using grocery store card?

No real savings when the store has jacked up the prices of the items on sale!

[americanwomanone]

3. No Saving Because................

The drug companies were allowed to raise prices shortly before the cards took effect.

[whistle]

4. Correct, the cards are total BS

[struggle4progress]

6. kick for another Bushista scam

:kick:

[The Zanti Regent]

9. But Pat Robertson has HIS drug discount card!

...looks just like his platinum American Express card, too!

[SoCalDem]

10. You guys missed the whole point of the cards..

The BIG BUCKS in CASH DOLLARS were given to the drug companies and HMOs...UP FRONT..

BushCo never intended for the oldsters to actually save any money..

The Drug companies WROTE the legislation...and spent the run-up months "adjusting" the popular drugs' prices (upwards)...took the money, and of course the cards are useless..but THEY got their money upfront, so screw Grannie:(

[squidbro]

11. Drug companies given the best gift they could've received

The drug companies along with much else in health care are out of control.

It seems like everyone is counting on the medical system to drive profits.

The tobacco industry relied on the system to care for all of the heart attacks, emphysema and lung cancer they caused. Companies like McDonald's, Coca Cola and Frito-Lay are relying on the system to care for all of the atherosclerosis and diabetes they are causing. Walmart simply provides no health care benefits and expects doctors and hospitals to absorb the costs of Walmart's sick workers and pass them to someone else.

Insurance companies are using the "supposed" rises in health care costs to drive up premiums many times faster than health costs are actually rising. Never mind that the insurance companies squandered their money in the stock market melt down. But rising health care costs makes a convenient justification to replenish their coffers with obsenely increased premiums.

Drug companies only desire to maximize their profits and constantly bombard physicians and patients with ads in order to use their products. Products that insurance companies do not want to pay while they try to replenish their coffers.

Medical supply companies are also peddling their wares like motorized wheelchairs on television. When Medicare refuses to cover the insane costs of these items, it is the physician who suffers the wrath of the patient for turning the patient down. But, Medicare rules are completely clear. A person has to meet the criteria of being unable to walk and unable to use their arms to propel themselves.

Trial lawyers and unethical physicians also attempt to make money off of the system also.

The honest physicians and other health care workers along with the patients get to suffer.

The system truly needs reform. However, letting the drug companies write the legislation and having Congress rubber stamp it is like letting the fox guard the hen house.

Next, Bush will have the insurance companies write legislation regarding insurance coverage regulations.

It's amazing.

Perhaps America's seniors will finally see through Bush's farce.

[Mountainman]

12. The drug card created another middleman.

All the drug cards did was create someone else to make money off of the need for seniors to need medication.