Social security and medicare

[Gailete]

Re: Social security and medicare

Until we can speak in real dollars, I fear this discussion will be academic for most.

I guess that is why I piped up. In real dollars the drug program will save me several thousand in a year. I realize not everyone will be happy, but for those folks with high prescription costs and no company health insurance to back them up (such as my folks and inlaws) this program is a blessing. Of course the program can be made easier and more user friendly, but in the meantime hopefully many more of our older and disabled folks will benefit than those who won't. I didn't feel particularly hopeful about the program until I started getting reports from my mom and inlaws and then looked for myself what my benefits would be and realized it could be a very good thing.

Don't get too down on VJW. He's actually quite lucid on the subject

I'm not getting down on anybody, I just wanted to insert a voice that is HAPPY about the new plan. Before disability I was an RN and know exactly what happened to health care starting in the late 80's and "health care reform" a la Hillary Clinton. For once I'm seeing something that will benefit me whose disablity in many ways was caused by eliminating so many nurses and aides, that those who were left abused our bodies to keep up with the work. I destroyed my back and ground my knees to powder trying to give excellent health care and when I became disabled as a result in my late 40's I was left with nothing.

Just a voice from someone who has been in the health care trenches.

Gail

[sweeps]

Re: Social security and medicare

Update: Republicans reach deal on spending cuts

Budget cuts on Medicare, Medicaid and education.

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: Social security and medicare

Is this a real cut or a reduction in a spending increase?

[VJW]

Re: Social security and medicare

I have no intentions of getting into a fight about this, but have you actually researched these programs for yourself

Yes I have.

Your own personal opinion is valid for you, but please do not discount a program whose time has come

It’s not my opinion. Here is a detailed study:

FALLING SHORT

This is not the program whose time has come.

The problem is that this administration lavishes MASSIVE amounts on the Rich & Corporate, and throws scraps at the Middle-class and Poor, and everyone is supposed to conclude that it’s better than nothing. That is not the proper gauge of the program. The proper gauge is what does it deliver for the nation and the American people in return for the MASSIVE amounts that are being spent. By that measurement, it is a dismal failure.

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[flash]

Re: Social security and medicare

Part D is a complicated program, and is certainly not a solution to general prescription coverage. The objective was to help people who are long term users of specific medications at a cost that is considered catastrophic. If you are in or under the donut, it will likely be a break even of premiums and pay for your own drugs.

For people like my parents, who also lost prescription coverage from their retirement plan when the new medicare came in, it will help. They have enough disabilities and recurring prescriptions, (diabetes, high blood pressure, allergy meds that haven't changed in two years), that they can choose a plan to cover their specific meds; because their out of pocket costs have regularly been over the catastrophic limit, over the year part D "should" decrease their costs somewhat.

However, a HUGE problem with this plan is that you must choose a specific insurance plan based on each plans formulary (specific medications, by NAME, that are covered). If you are currently on drugs x, y and z, and choose a plan that covers them, then prescriptions change to a, b, c that are NOT in the formularly, they aren't covered. Also, under the step approach, even if you have already been through a trial and error approach to find the best medication, they will again require you to try the tier 1 or cheaper medications, prove that they are insufficient have low efficacy for your condition, try the next tier, etc., until you have exhausted their cheaper alternatives. For quite a few people with disabilities undergoing TREATMENT, as opposed to MAINTENANCE, this is a significant issue.

MY scripts are $2K a month and I reduced them to $1K as one of my goals for October. I've already been through many meds, trial courses, and adjustments, and have worked with my specialists to find the lowest cost effective medications. Under part D, if my current low-cost pharmacy is covered by the plan, AND the drugs are in the formularly, I would benefit under part D. If that pharmacy is NOT in the plan, OR the specific drugs are not in the plan formularly, OR my doctor changes my prescriptions as my treatment progresses, I would be worse off than I was, since there would be an additional premium to pay for along with all the meds!

So, it is a step that should benefit a specific set of Medicare recipients. It isn't all bad. But it does not resolve the cost of meds for many people. For them, it just adds incredible complications.

[Ima saver]

Re: Social security and medicare

I am getting close to that day. I will only get about $400 a month, so I am not relying on it. Lucky for me, my husband is 7 years younger and can keep working. I am trying to save as much as I can and I will be saving that $400 a month when I get it.

[CRFSaver]

Re: Social security and medicare

While I haveno clue how the prescription plans work as that is covered through my work, I have never been a big fan of private accounts for social security. While many of the members of this forum might do a good job I think most people in general are not up to the task.

With private plans you are enticing people to speculate with those funds. I look at those as a "social security" net. If people speculate and lose their social security, whats gonna happen is all of a sudden those people will be applying for govt assistance at retirement, or put us in a worse situation then we are now.

I also worry that people would see those funds in their private accounts and not feel they have to save any bit more. Americans in general are terrible savers. If they wanted to do private accounts, I would say do an additional payroll deduction on top of FICA and medicare that would have to go into a private account. Just dont touch the social safety net.

My thoughts and just speculation, would love all your thoughts.

[flash]

Re: Social security and medicare

I think you have an excellent point in there. Many people who want to invest their own retirement and play the risk game may invest to create a fantastic retirement. They may also lose everything. In that instance, the "plan" is that they opted out of SSI and it would not be available to them. Then what? Will they be prepared to be broke and homeless, will Welfare pick up the tab?

Having retired at 40, I've done well, built my private retirement. My brother has not, having lost eveything in his investments, including his private retirement plan, yet still wants control to invest his SSI while he is paying into it. It is a complicated question. Anyone have an answer?

[CRFSaver]

Re: Social security and medicare

I guess I wasnt totally surprised when I read this op ed piece. Whether it's right on or not I am sure there is at the least an element of truth to it. This from someone (me) who is slowly warming to the idea of a single payer system...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/28/opinion/28fitch.html?ex=1293426000&en=fc53c39f37aee8ec&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[VJW]

Re: Social security and medicare

That may have been the case in 1991, but there is widespread support for Single-Payer by labor unions.

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[VJW]

Re: Social security and medicare

UPDATE:

The administration’s private-sector drug program is looking worse and worse, and more of a bad deal for MOST seniors. The following is excerpted from an e-mail I was forwarded:


If your medication costs are less than $5,100 annually, did you know that you may pay less at the XXXXXXXXXX pharmacy than with Medicare Part D?

According to a November 2005 report for the U.S. House Government Reform Committee, average drug prices offered by ten leading Medicare D drug programs are in fact higher on average than XXXXXXXXXX pharmacy prices.

For many seniors, the XXXXXXXXXX pharmacy may be a better choice than Medicare Part D:

* Our prices are lower on average than those of many Medicare Part D programs. Check our prices: http://www.XXXXXXXXXX.com/

* The majority of Medicare Part D programs have premiums, copays, and deductibles.

* Medicare Part D programs may not cover all of your medications.

* Medicare Part D has a "doughnut hole" -- it doesn't cover any prescription costs between $2,250 and $5,100.


Now just how is it that a small private company can offer better prices for medications to the vast majority of seniors (most seniors spend less than $5,100/annually), without the $700 BILLION subsidy from the federal government ?

This administration’s so-called ‘Medicare Part D’ is in reality just another Corporate Welfare pig with a little lipstick put on to make it look like they are attempting to help seniors.

This is beyond sad, this is an outrage.

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[jmjj215]

Re: Social security and medicare

Who wrote the original email?

[VJW]

Re: Social security and medicare

Well, I didn’t want to name the company, as it might be considered a referral, and I’m not sure what the policy of the board is on such matters.

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[jmjj215]

Re: Social security and medicare

It just sounds kind of hokey to me that's all. It kind of sounded like the company itself had written it so it could advertise its lower prices or something...

[VJW]

Re: Social security and medicare

Ah, it was from the company to someone I know. That’s why I used XXXXX for the name. It is an advert comparing their prices to those in the House Government Reform Committee report.

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