Wanted: Affordable, universal, uniform perscription program

(Rochester Business Journal)

President Bush recently stopped by our community to promote the new Medicare Part D program.  As far as we are concerned – D stands for disaster, disdainful, dreadful, damaging and most of all disappointment.

For Medicare recipients who truly wanted and needed a prescription drug program, Medicare part D is definitely a disappointment.  We really needed a program that was run by the Medicare system.  Optimally, that system could negotiate the best prices on prescription drugs.  What we go was a privatized prescription system with no room for negotiation.  A system that creates huge profits for insurance and pharmacutical companies but provides minimal relief for the people who were supposed to benefit from it. 

Medicare Part D has been put into the hands of private insurance providers who will dominate and influence the delivery of Medicare Part D.  If this is not scary enough, now we have numerous private programs to choose from- in this area-- about 27.   That is an awful lot of research for our elderly, who need to have as much information as possible – along with a roadmap to navigate this insanely cumbersome system.

 Not all insurance companies who provide Part D coverage offer the exact same benefits.  It is up to the client to wade through voluminous mailings, inserts, offers and commercials in order to decide which plan will best meet his or her needs.  Why isn’t Medicare Part D universal and uniform? How can anyone possible make sense of 27 different options and find on that meets each of their personal needs?.

Most Medicare recipients are finding that the new program is not affordable. Between deductibles, high premiums and the infamous doughnut holes, the program barely makes itself worthwhile. 

We needed a Medicare Prescription Plan that could insure our elderly in the event of catastrophic illnesses. In order to reach the catastrophic stage in the new plan one would have to spend $3600 out of pocket during the year. It is no accident that studies show the average recipient spends $2500 per year on medical needs. As it turns out, most people never get their drugs covered at the 95% rate.

It is also interesting that the current administration budgeted 1 billion dollars over ten years for advertising.  What that means is, they expect that it’s going to take a billion dollars of taxpayer money to convince taxpayers that the taxes they are paying are being used appropriately.  How absurd.  If this were an acceptable plan, it would sell itself without advertising.  Then again, under the Bush Administration – practically every new policy has to be spoon fed to us just like a bitter pill

With cost projections for the new Medicare Modernization Act having settled at 400 billion dollars, it is shocking to see that costs have risen to 700 billion.  Those costs will continue to rise at the wit and whimsy of the prescription industry.  Don’t forget, under the plan – there is no negotiating for the best price.

Privatization has also permeated the rest of Medicare-A and B as well.  The doors have been opened to let clients choose private insurance companies in place of traditional Medicare through  Medicare Advantage. This option will drastically change Medicare as we know it, and do so in a hurry.

Some people think that traditional Medicare is entirely free. Medicare Part B  recipients have around $86 taken out of their SS each month for Medicare Part B. This price has been steadily rising and will continue to do so as people transition from traditional Medicare and go into Medicare Advantage programs leaving only the sickest and poorest in the traditional Medicare System.

The Medicare Modernization Act was a bad approach to prescription coverage for our seniors and people with disabilities.  It has been a major cash cow for insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies, once again showing Bush like favoritism to corporate America and a complete disregard for America’s working families.

If labor leaders had been permitted to speak with President Bush while he was here, we would have told him we need to alter Medicare Part D  to a plan that has its beneficiaries interests and needs as a priority.  We need a plan that is administered by the traditional Medicare System which will represent its clients and negotiate drug prices on their behalf.  We need a plan that is affordable.  We need a plan that is universal and uniform.  Finally we need a plan that truly covers catastrophic illnesses.

We also need to close the doors to privatization of our entire Medicare System before it is too late. We had a system in parts A and B that served its beneficiaries with a 1-2% administration cost . It is the best possible way to care for the largest group of seniors and people with disabilities.