Lieberman criticizes new Medicare plan

[Freddie Stubbs]

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., has joined the growing number of lawmakers and advocates criticizing the rollout of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit as being too confusing for beneficiaries.

The new Medicare law took effect in earnest New Year’s Day, but seniors have until May 15 to pick a plan and enroll without incurring penalties.

Medicaid beneficiaries, including the disabled and people of all ages with low incomes, who did not pick a plan were automatically enrolled in the new Medicare program this week in a plan of administrators’ choosing.

The period of open enrollment for regular Medicare beneficiaries began Nov. 15. Since then, proponents of the new program, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-5th District, who helped write the law, have touted cost savings and are urging seniors to start early and take time to review plan options and seek help from friends, family, or social services providers if necessary.

more: http://www.bristolpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15874132&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=10486&rfi=6

[fasttense]

1. No I can't believe it. The DINO would actually

criticize something his bud Crazy King George did? Hmmm, maybe he does want to get reelected.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. He voted against the bill in 2003

No change in position at all.

[cosmicdot]

26. according to the roll-call vote, he didn't vote at all

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00459


Not Voting - 2

Kerry (D-MA)
Lieberman (D-CT)


With 11 Democrats voting for this Bu$h fiasco, and 9 Republicans voting against it ... it could have been defeated.




Lieberman's press secretary, Jano Cabrera, said the senator left for a campaign stop in Arizona -- where Bush is to appear at a fund-raiser Tuesday afternoon for Rep. Rick Renzi's re-election campaign -- after it became "ultimately clear the bill was heading toward passage."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/25/elec04.medicare/

[OKNancy]

8. because he isn't a DINO

His only crappy position is Iraq, otherwise he is a pure-d-old Democrat.

[bigwillq]

17. But his war stance really discredits him, imo

I can't support a DEM who is publicly supportive of the war when there is significant evidence to prove we went into Iraq for all the wrong reasons.

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. What does the war have to do with Medicare?

:shrug:

[DrRang]

12. We got prescriptions filled Tuesday--a madhouse. Our local

pharmacy was so swamped with older people trying to get their meds and completely confused, that the pharms and assistants were just giving folks their their pills and saying they'd charge it later. All phone lines to state insurance programs were jammed, and computers were impossible to use to get through due to the total confusion.

[rodeodance]

2. glad to see he initially voted against the bill also.

....Lieberman voted against the new law in 2003 because he felt it made too many concessions to drug companies and too few to seniors.

During debate on the issue, likely to resume in earnest when Congress returns from recess this month, Lieberman will press for a more "streamlined" program, he said this week.

"I have pushed hard to do a better job implementing this overly-complicated legislation and explaining it to seniors because they deserve an easier transition process," Lieberman said. "..I will try to make this transition easier for seniors."

While the administration touts the new program as being voluntary, Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, dispute that claim because of penalty fees that increase over time to be imposed on people who enroll after May 15.

[Cassandra]

3. His senior citizen constituants...

must have beaten the crap out of him during the break.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. Why would they have done that?

he voted against the bill in 2003.

[Cassandra]

14. But now they've been dealing with the reality of it...

so they would have let him know just how unhappy they were. I think that's why he's speaking out rather than just being against it.

[onenote]

16. he wasn't "just against it" -- he spoke out before as well

http://lieberman.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=215499

[wellst0nev0ter]

4. Even Arrogant Dinos Are Right Twice A Day (nt)

eom

[rooboy]

7. Wow - when fellow republicans turn on Bush you know he's in trouble. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Lieberman opposed the bill back in 2003

when Bush was much more popular than he is is now.

[Isere]

15. You can report the facts once, twice, three times

and some of Lieberman-haters will still not hear you. It's a yeoman's job.

[bigscott]

10. i remember

when Loserman claimed the bill gave too much to Pharma companies it created a big stink in CT, where Pfizer, Bristol-Myers, Bayer, Purdue Pharma, etc all have a large (sometimes VERY large) presence

[WePurrsevere]

11. Someone needs to either check their facts or learn better writing skills..

"Medicaid beneficiaries, including the disabled and people of all ages with low incomes, who did not pick a plan were automatically enrolled in the new Medicare program this week in a plan of administrators’ choosing."

To my knowledge and understanding not all Medicaid recipients ("disabled and people of all ages with low incomes") will be switched to the Medicare drug plan which is how this is written. It's only those that are already on Medicare AND also receive Medicaid that will be switched. To double check this I asked my 27 yo daughter (who is expecting my first grandchild in April) and is on MediCAID to help with these costs, she has not heard anything about her being "switched" to MediCARE for prescriptions.

As for Lieberman... although I commend him on his stance and agree with him about it's being a bum deal in this case I've never cared for him and never could understand why on earth Gore choose him at all. (Since I know I'm not the only one who felt this way I often have wondered if that choice cost him enough votes that even Diebold couldn't have rigged it without being extremely blatent.)

My husband and I are both eligible for this Medicare drug program since we are disabled and on SS and Medicare. We have looked this program over and have chosen NOT to sign up at this time for a few reasons... none of which is that it's "too confusing".

[William769]

13. All Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the program

All Medicaid beneficiaries with Medicare are eligible for a special program that will pay their premiums & out of pocket expenses with a 1 to 5 dollar copay pay for medicines.

[WePurrsevere]

25. Yes, that's right. The wording the reporter used that I quoted makes it...

sound like Medicaid beneficiaries, whether on Medicare or not, were eligible. This, as I'm sure you know, is not correct and that is why my comment was made, the reporters comment is inaccurate and misleading. Although the two systems are similar they're also very different... one being for low income folks of all ages and "abilities" and one being pretty much only for the disabled & seniors and is not income based.

It's a very good thing that those who are on Medicaid and Medicare are getting help with the premiums and out of pocket expenses especially since if the Medicare Rx program hadn't been implimented those also on Medicaid wouldn't have had any "out of pocket expenses" and would only have had to pay a low co-pay for Rx's anyway.

[wordpix]

18. nancy johnson, this is your last term, you pharma whore

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. She's retiring?

I guess she is getting a little old. She turns 71 today:

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000163

[wordpix]

22. no intention of retiring but in CT, we hope to retire her next election

[zann725]

19. My understanding was Medicare recipients had UNTIL March-April to enroll

win PARTICULAR plan they wanted.

ALSO, on an interesting note...I called Medicare DIRECTLY...after many tries, and much "on hold"...and was told, after they checked their computer...that they were "suggesting" to me the plan which best benefited me. Now unless the "computer" the person I was speaking with was malfunctioning, she suggested a plan with a $250 deductible, and drugs that cost MORE than many ot hrs I considered...all of which had NO DEDUCTIBLE!! My suspicion is that they are further bilking the elderly and disabled by MIS-DIRECTING them to plans that have more benefits for the drug companies, and Plans that have higher premiums.

Healthnet, for example, has NO deductible, cost $17/mo., and covers most drugs I inquired about, at substantial discounts. In fact, Healthnet, and others even had lower premiums than AARP ($22 per month), which supposedly has the lobbying power to get the cheaper rates. AARP's drug costs were even slightly higher than, for example Healthnet.

It's all such a scam. I will check into it, but MY understanding is that I am NOT enrolled in Medicare's OWN Part D (but eligible for it as of Dec. 31). My own carrier I get to choose within the next few months.

Just info for others considering. Do NOT necessarily take the advice of a Medicare "operator" who mis-directs you to a higher-costing plan which does NOT benefit the Medicare consumer.

Come to think of it, I'm writing my Senator and Congress-person about this as well. THe $250 deductible was an INEXCUSABLE "mistake."

[maxrandb]

21. Hey Joe!!

This Democrat tells you to either "Lead, Follow, or get the hell out of the way".

Get the hell out of the party too while you're at it.

"If you ain't the lead horse, the view never changes"

[Rambis]

23. Parents already denied

the company they worked for just dropped their perscription drug benefit for retirees (thanks *)
were denied a perscription because they didn't have the card! They said it hasn't been mailed yet and the pharmacy said we know pay for it in full. Here is the big kicker though....
the Arthritis meds under their old pension plan were 250 a month put of pocket. Even if they had the card in hand under the new medicare drug plan they cost 2,500$ a month. This plan is great for seniors! BS!