Seniors see savings in Medicare drug plan

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC/AP

LOS ANGELES - Medicare’s 3-year-old prescription drug plan has largely met its main goal of making lifesaving medicines more affordable for seniors, a new report found.

The analysis by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation examined government data and past studies and found that for the most part, people who used to lack drug coverage saw their out-of-pocket costs drop after enrolling in the Medicare drug program.

The report, published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, provides the most comprehensive look yet at how Medicare consumers have fared since the program, called Medicare Part D, went into effect in 2006.

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The coverage gap — known as the “doughnut hole” — continues to be a problem. The plan applies to the first $2,700 in prescriptions. Beneficiaries then hit the gap and have to pay for their drugs until their out-of-pocket expenses reach $4,350 for the year, at which point coverage resumes. Average monthly out-of-pocket spending nearly doubled for people who enter the coverage gap, the researchers found.

Congress is discussing ways to close that gap as it struggles to revamp the nation’s $2.4 trillion health care system.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32088178/ns/health-health_care/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Interesting

seeing as one of our patients had vital medications she's had for YEARS and which her insurance company had been paying for had them suddenly cut off, after the same company had approved the medication back in February. We've been going round and round with this company all day. Our patient, an elderly person on Medicare with this private insurance as a supplement, is recovering from major surgery and is very distraught. Doc took time from a VERY busy day to write the company a letter about how we'd already jumped through all their hoops and that it wasn't fair to suddenly decide they wouldn't cover a drug that they had approved. She sent a copy of the letter to our Congressman, just for grins. Poor patient will have to pay for the scrip out of pocket--several hundred dollars a month--or die.

[county worker]

2. I've always felt this was a bad idea.

First because repukes put it in place and they never do anything to benefit the average American.

Second you could not buy drugs from another country where they were cheaper

Third it created a whole new middleman when consumers had to pick a plan

Fourth the dough nut hole thing should never be there.

Basically it forced people to pay what ever they were told to pay by their plan and then created a whole new class of consumers paying out of pocket what ever they were told to pay.

A better idea would have been to let everyone buy drugs on line from the lowest cost source they could find that met FDA requirements.

[bemildred]

3. The "Kaiser Family Foundation"?

Why is this marketing drivel printed as though it was News?

[Faygo Kid]

4. Good organization. Solid.

I am very familiar with them; they do invaluable work. If you're not familiar with them, perhaps you ought to check them out before criticizing their motives.

I was against the Medicare plan, but at least it got prescription drugs into Medicare. Don't know if we can fix the problems, though. We'll see.

[bemildred]

7. I have no desire to argue with you over this.

So lets let it go.

[Psephos]

9. If you're harshing on KFF, you're way underinformed

The Foundation is a good nonpartisan go-to for deep information, original research, and public service campaigns. Very active in HIV/AIDS education, especially for the young. They partner up with the likes of MTV and BET. Their stuff wins Grammys and Peabodys. They do a hell of a lot more than this, too.

The Foundation has no connection with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries.

Bemildred, why didn't you google them if you didn't know anything? You frequently have insightful or wickedly funny things to say, whether or not I always agree. But this time you did not distinguish yourself.

[bemildred]

10. That's called a "non sequitur", the one does not in fact imply the other.

It's nice that you like then, but I don't have to, and it doesn't mean I'm "way underinformed". It means I don't like them.

[Psephos]

11. actually, no

You've recast this as being about you liking KFF, but the chain of logic starts with your implication that they're a biased "marketing drivel" front. I responded because that's inaccurate, and a disservice to those who might benefit from what KFF offers. By all means, dislike or even hate whoever you want with gusto and alacrity and lust and relish - but don't lob a stink-bomb at people who do a lot of demonstrable good without providing some basis for the put-down, and then wonder why others might rise to their defense.

[bemildred]

13. These are all opinions, not facts.

There is no chain of logic. I did not "recast" it as anything, I cast it as an expression of my opinion. It is you that wants to recast it as something else because you don't like my opinions.

Tough.

[Psephos]

14. "all opinions, not facts" - yes, yes, exactly my impression of your first post as well

Reaching agreement with you was a bit of a slog up the mountainside there, but well worth the trouble.

And if there's anything we need more than more "opinions, not facts," I can't think of it. Tres a la mode. Do be prolific. ;)

[WoodyM]

5. The fact that Medicare stops paying

when one reaches $2,700 in drug cost clearly demonstrates that it really does not help people when they really need it. If your prescriptions are generics that are low priced it will not save you very much when you consider the premium you pay. The premiums have nearly doubled since the program started. A family member of mine reaches the doughnut hole in May. These are the kind of people who really need help with their drug cost.

[grilled onions]

6. I Faced The Doughnut Hole In June

I am on disability and take meds for arthritis and diabetes. It looks like I will be paying full price for the rest of the year. I use several generic(when they are available for my meds)and stretch a med or two when I can but still I face full price meds for the rest of the year.I consider myself lucky enough to have $$$ for a roof over my head and food to eat. I shudder to think of those who are also challenged in those depts as well!

[hedgehog]

8. I don't understand why the donut hole didn't blow up in the Republicans face!

What is the justification, that if you have to pay for your meds, you'll think twice about buying them? I wonder how many people go off blood pressure medications from time to time because they've hit the donut hole, only to end up in the hospital with uncontrolled hypertension!

[RamboLiberal]

12. That always puzzled me too

Seems Dems aren't as skillful or have the media clout to get this message out and to get outraged seniors complaints aired.

But boy are Repukes skilled at lying about Canadian and European health care.