Analysts: Medicare Drug Costs Will Rise

[radfringe]

Analysts: Medicare Drug Costs Will Rise
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031126/ap_on_go_co/medicare_numbers_3
By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Seniors will face annual increases in premiums and deductibles — and a growing gap in coverage — for the prescription drugs they buy under the new Medicare law, budget analysts say.

---snip----

But after just one year, the Congressional Budget Office (news - web sites) projects that seniors would see their $250 deductible and the $2,850 gap for which there is no coverage both jump 10 percent.

By 2013, the eighth year of the program, the deductible and the coverage gap are both projected to grow by 78 percent.

In other words, seniors would pay a $445 deductible and those with the largest drug bills would be entirely responsible for more than $5,000 in drug costs.

--snip---

At the same time, CBO said, Medicare's contribution also would rise each year so that the program would pay $1,500 of the first $2,250 in drug costs in 2006 and $2,666 of the first $4,000 in 2013.

Insurance premiums, which are Committee chairman, and are posted on the CBO Web site.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. The whole medicare bill

was simply a handout to pharmacuticals and hmos.

[R Hickey]

2. Looks like Canada is the only alternative for many seniors

Sure hope Congress's gift to the drug companies doesn't restrict the eldery from ordering their drugs from Canada.

[indepat]

4. Doesn't Congress's gift to the drug companies greatly restrict ordering

from Canada? The Medicare Bill is but a microcosm of what the neocons have in store for Americans.

[izzie]

3. Interesting to see what happens. Looks like the looters are out

n/t

[Malva Zebrina]

5. keeping in mind that many seniors

are on fixed incomes . They will be practically forced to go to work, if they can still walk and talk and dress themself. I can see that coming--

[radfringe]

8. but if they go to work

this will increase their income and thereby increase their premiums/co-pays etc.... don't forget about the MEANS testing portion of the bill

they will be in same boat as a parent that want's to work, but has to put kids in daycare in order to work, and paycheck is only enough to pay for daycare....

[moondust]

6. Medicareless.

Pugs are good at something: disguising their thievery. This time they apparently had some people--including some Dems--believing they were helping senior citizens. Not only does it not help--it makes things worse. They'll be laughing all the way to the bank!

[cthrumatrix]

7. we never hear Frist talk about this....zero cost controls

when they say "not perfect"...it means seniors get screwed

[pfitz59]

10. Frist family owns an HMO.......

His own fortune will increase EXPONENTIALLY! Of course he won't talk about this. BTW - Why does a world-class pediatric heart surgeon run for elective office (rather than use his skills to help suffering children)? (Hint; It has to do with $$$$$$$$$$!)

[radfringe]

9. it's part of BUSHco's plan

starve the beast - smoke and mirrors in order to let it whither on the vine

GOP's biggest endorsements of the plan: it isn't perfect and
it's better than nothing

It isn't perfect - it's been crippled, and considering how bad this plan is - nothing may just be better

Seniors may not be able to ORDER Canadian drugs via mail/internet/telephone - but I don't see anything that will stop them from hopping on buses and crossing the border

[pfitz59]

11. Distance and money are a barrier.......

Border state seniors are within driving distance, but many seniors don't drive, and fewer have the funds to fly up to Canada. One of the local retirement homes sends a bus up every month; however, a busload of oldsters toting "Rx Canada" shopping bags will be a sure tip-off to the jack-boot border guards. Mail-order and internet were the best way to go! You can bet Asscrack and his goons are salivating at the chance to arrest a busload of "pesky liberal seniors"!

[ramapo]

12. What a plan!

Republicans pass Medicare prescription bill that doesn't start for 2+ years. Gives them two elections (including the big one) to run on their record providing the biggest benefit blah, blah blah. After all, they are saving lives with this bill!

It'll be 3-4 years before the effects of the bill really appear. By then the Repubs will have cemented themselves in office. Dems can't run against analysis of what will happen. Voters are not for the most part very analytical.

Barring economic disaster, we will see a Republican steamroller. Get used to it.

[radfringe]

13. It'll be 3-4 years before the effects of the bill really appear

"..It'll be 3-4 years before the effects of the bill really appear. By then the Repubs will have cemented themselves in office...."

that is the plan - by the time the feces impacts the rotating blades - it won't be Bush's problem, and GOPers who are safely planted will just do some more spinning

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