Low-Income Nonapplicants to Get Medicare Drug Cards

[Eye and Monkey]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/23/politics/23drug.html

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 - After struggling for months to get Medicare beneficiaries to sign up for drug discount cards, the Bush administration said Wednesday that it would simply send the cards to 1.8 million people with low incomes who are eligible but have not applied.

Democrats in Congress and advocates for low-income people have been urging the government to take such steps since April. By using the cards, Medicare beneficiaries can cut about 20 percent off retail drug prices. In addition, low-income people with no other source of drug coverage can get up to $1,200 in federal aid.

Medicare officials also provided additional information on Wednesday about factors contributing to a sharp increase in Medicare premiums. Starting in January, the premium will be $78.20 a month, an increase of $11.60 or 17 percent over this year's premium.

Administration officials and Republicans in Congress have said that beneficiaries will receive more for their money, including new coverage for preventive health services. But Medicare actuaries told Congress this week that only 14 cents of the increase in premiums was attributable to the new benefits: an initial physical examination for new beneficiaries and screening tests for diabetes and high cholesterol.

COMMENT: Isn't this alot like spamming? New campaign talking points - Medicare Drug Cards up 1.8 million participants this week!

[murielm99]

1. My aunt got one of those things and saved exactly $4.00

on her monthly prescriptions. She is angry that she fell for it.

She gets a better deal at a discount pharmacy.

Does anyone else know about how much people are saving?

[TaleWgnDg]

2. please excuse my dripping sarcasm . . .

but the biggest scam of all is politicians and others who say: "hey, those Republicans should allow us to get our prescription drugs from Canada!"

HOLY CRAPOLA! Canada? Why?

Why should American consumers on one hand subsidize other nations low drug prices while on the other hand continue to pay the highest cost for the very same drugs here in the States? How come other nations force American drug companies to cut their prices but America does not? What's wrong w/ this picture? America's prescription drug prices should be similar in price to Canada's!

There should be no rush to Canada's border for our prescription drugs and there definitely should NEVER be this stupid "drug discount cards" that GWBush and Company is (bandaid) pushing.

[trogdor]

9. A band-aid is at least good for something.

Anybody remember the People's Prescription Plan? You paid $7.95 a month, and supposedly got discounts on drugs. Consumer Reports did an article on this scam, and it was discovered that very few people even got their $7.95 back at the pharmacy. Without a doubt, this is where Bush got the idea for his faith-based prescription plan. Thing is, seniors aren't as stupid as Bush thinks they are, and they blew him off.

[pop goes the weasel]

11. $.36

That's what my mom saved the last time she picked up a prescription. My mom is a notorious non-voter. This year, she asked me, "I don't want to make a mistake and vote for the wrong people. Is there a way I can just vote for the Democrats?" Yes! A new straight-ticket voter is born!

[izzie]

3. Is it true that the tax payers pay 75% of study/work on new drugs.?

I read that some place. I think I believe it as tax payers we give millions to NIH. I save more from a State card. They said up to 85% but as I take no pills I am not sure. I did call the state about new SS cars and they said just stick with State card. The $ 78 a month will hurt me.I may have to drop the gap insurance. I do not get full SS but depend on my own savings.

[Eye and Monkey]

4. In general, yes, it's true. And worse.

Wherever and whenever possible - which works out to be fairly frequently - pharmacorps slough the costs of research & development onto the US tax-payer. Of course, they then reap inflated benefits by over-inflating prices to consumers - particularly US consumers. Then they continue to bilk consumers with over-extended patents - intellectual property rights - which prevent others manufacturers from making the medications at a reasonable price.

BushCo's fraudulent "discount cards" are just the latest wrinkles in this massive ongoing scam.

[shirlden]

8. I may have to drop also

Many women living on SS don't get full amounts for various reasons. This huge increase with the obvious of more to come especially if * steals the WH again, will drive me out. I understand that most of the increase is to help cover the give-a-way to HMOs.
Another take from the poor and give to the rich scheme from the BFEE.

x(

[leetrisck]

5. And they're sending them out just before the election

Isn't that sweet?

[Eye and Monkey]

6. Actually, this has a strong chance of back-firing in BushCo's face.

1.8 million seniors will get these cards, and 1.799999 million seniors will be completely confused. Brouhaha will ensue.

[Dem2theMax]

7. Get the word out. Refuse the cards and send them BACK to

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

I've heard nothing but horror stories about these cards. The medications that seniors normally take have been upped in price. WAY up. So there is NO savings using these cards. The drug companies get more $$$, * gets his 'big business' contributions and votes, and the lowly senior citizen just gets screwed.

My parents/seniors, have Medical and an HMO within Medical. The HMO is a scam as well when it comes to medications. The HMO is constantly sending literature to my folks, telling them to order their meds through the HMO's mail service. 3 month supply of prescription drugs for 'less' money! Oh wow. So my Mom goes for it. Turns out she pays WAY more by using the HMO service than if she just goes to the local pharmacy. Any way you look at it, the seniors get screwed. And *....I hope he gets Cheneyed REAL good. (While bending over for the soap when he does his time behind bars.)

Hey, a girl can dream, can't she? :evilgrin:

[sandnsea]

10. Exactly

My uncle just told me yesterday all his medication went up so the cards didn't save a thing. Besides, companies have been offering these cards for 10 years now. If they were that great, everybody would have gotten one.

[Senior citizen]

12. What's the most effective response to this?

If they send me one can I report them to the Better Business Bureau and the local district attorney's office for trying to scam a senior?

Would contacting the media be the best way to go?

When the cards first came out our senior center's directer, a VERY astute local banker, gave a media interview explaining why they were NOT a good thing for seniors.

[grasswire]

13. seniors...

..ought to build a turkey out of these cards, call the media, and crate the turkey and send it off to the white house. "We know a turkey when we see one."

[TaleWgnDg]

15. all of the above ! indeed . . . !!

[Senior citizen]

14. Is this one of those no-bid contracts?

Weren't there supposed to be a lot of different kinds of cards from different drug companies?

How does the gov't. decide which card a senior needs, or have they just given the whole deal to the biggest chimp campaign supporter?

[uhhuh]

16. It's just another example

of those big government republicans sticking their noses into people's personal medical choices.

[Eye and Monkey]

17. Well, they HAD to identify the corps quickly, you see. So -

- BushCo contracted with companies that they KNEW and TRUSTED from PRIOR WORKING RELATIONSHIPS.

(can you translate "prior working relationships"?)

[TaleWgnDg]

18. seniors please be wary . . .

realize that the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is in many businesses that are opposed to your self-interests.

This is why the AARP backed Bush's initial steps to privatize Medicare. This is why AARP backed Bush's prescription drug program.

AARP sells drugs. http://www.aarppharmacy.com/aarpNet/rx/rxDefault.aspx The question being, what does AARP reap from this? from Bush's give-away to the drug companies and pharmacy intermediaries? "$162 million from all insurance-related sources . . ." http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-12-10-aarp-usat_x.htm


AARP sells health insurance. "AARP collected $123 million in royalties, or commissions, on that business, and a total $162 million from all insurance-related sources, or one-quarter its $636 million total revenue." http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-12-10-aarp-usat_x.htm

What doesn't AARP shill eeerrrrr "sell" to its "members?"

As the Democrats put it in an article in USAToday, "AARP's Democratic critics have also suggested the organization has a conflict in pushing the (new prescription drug) law." http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-12-10-aarp-usat_x.htm

Indeed. AARP has huge conflicts of interest as it shills its wares to its "members." And this "drug discount" crap is one of the many.

edited due to typo