Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

Medicare D: Most Find It "Puzzing"

by Street Kid
Sun Jan 22nd, 2006 at 10:36:28 PM EST

More than half, 52 percent, of respondents say they think the program that began enrolling people on Jan. 1 is tough to understand.
Two-thirds of older people surveyed and two-thirds of those who have signed up say they are confused by the program, which is intended to help many save more on their prescription drugs.
A third said they had not decided what they think of the new program and 16 percent said they have little trouble figuring out the program.
Of those people who have enrolled in the program or have family members enrolled, six in 10 in the poll said they have noticed no significant savings.
Half of the Republicans surveyed say the drug program is hard to understand while six in 10 Democrats say they feel that way.

More numbers:

...national SeniorTrax survey finds 53 percent of seniors have absolutely no plans to enroll for Part D benefits, 24 percent say they had chosen a Part D plan and 23 percent say they had not chosen a Part D plan, but intend to do so.

continued

OK, now we know the numbers as reported by MSM/RWCM. But, the numbers given so far only include senior citizens. Why don't the numbers reflect the fact that people with disabilities are also being harmed by Medicare D? After all, a person is a person and the rx's are still necessary.
OK, now we know the numbers as reported by MSM/RWCM. But, the numbers given so far only include senior citizens. Why don't the numbers reflect the fact that people with disabilities are also being harmed by Medicare D? After all, a person is a person and the rx's are still necessary.

To me, this further demonstrates a point that I made in a comment to an earlier diary (on mlw), namely, that disability rights are a subject that has been ignored for too long. Also, it is appalling that few in the media or the administration are recognizing this. Especially in light of this:

Poor, disabled patients -- called "dual eligibles" in Medicare jargon and totaling about 6.4 million nationally -- were switched Jan. 1 to the new Medicare Part D program, which allows them, like seniors, to choose a private company to subsidize their prescriptions.

But, the fact of the matter is that many people with disabilities are finding out that the plans they were switched to will not cover all of their rx's, or will charge an unaffordable co-pay. (To a person living on SSI an increase in a co-pay can mean skipping meals.)

Guess the number of people with disabilities just aren't important enough for DC to pay attention to.

Medicare D: Most Find It "Puzzing" | 13 comments (13 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Three letters: (4.00 / 3)

FDR!!

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Sun Jan 22nd, 2006 at 10:37:48 PM EST

Re: Three letters: (4.00 / 2)

thank you for this important series, Street Kid.

Latino Político | "We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit." - Octavio Paz

by Man Eegee (man.eegee at gmail.com) on Sun Jan 22nd, 2006 at 11:47:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You're welcome! (4.00 / 2)

I'm going to stick with it and am still researching/reading/organizing the single payer info. When I started this, I had absolutely NO idea that there was so much info available re: single payer, although I did have an idea of how people with disabilities, senior citizens and others w/low-incomes who depend on Medicare D for their rx's are getting screwed over by this.

Re: Medicare D--I am just going to diary the info that I find.

Re: Single-payer--Right now the plan is to review it (still doing that!) and present it so that it is viewed as a realistic alternative to the crap that is going on in the health care system today. Other posts to earlier diaries have made it clear that this (health care) is a serious problem that everyone in this country faces.

I am very glad that there are people like you and others who are paying attention to this and realizing the severity of the situation re: health care.

Something's got to give. People's lives are at stake.

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 12:03:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You're welcome! (4.00 / 2)

Yes, this is a wonderful series -- I'm happy to recommend it (and I hope everyone reading does too)

Eat 4 Today: Just today I'm not going to take seconds & not eating between meals

by katiebird (katieremovebird@everestkc.net) on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 07:31:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You're welcome! (none / 1)

Thanks for the recommendations and encouragement, katiebird! As I said, I am going to keep at it in the hope that more and more people wake up and realize the importance of Medicare D(iasater) and hope that more people will realize the need for a single payer system!

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 05:48:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D: Most Find It "Puzzing" (4.00 / 2)

I can only echo others in my thanks to you for this series. I had looked over the paperwork with my step mom and it was horrible-luckily we're in New York and she is eligible for Epic-the state health care plan. Otherwise I don't know what we'd do.
I know I may be seriously over-reacting but the total lack of news on how this affects the disabled scares the heck out of me.

"Before you knew the word 'dream' and the word 'fire' you dreamed of fires" Lisel Mueller

by vida on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 12:07:13 PM EST

Re: Medicare D: Most Find It "Puzzing" (none / 1)

the total lack of news on how this affects the disabled scares the heck out of me.

That is the main reason why I started on this. (Don't know if you know, but, I am a traumtic brain injury survivor who also has epilepsy and has been getting all sorts of bs re: my rx.) Anyway, there are people who have less than I do and are in really dire straights.

I'm really glad that your mom is able to have some sort of coverage, but, IMO, the fact of the matter is that health care is a right that has been long been available only to those who can afford it!

Someone said to me once, "You have to save yourself before you can save the world." Guess I'm trying to do both at once.

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 06:09:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Appeal to more affluent readers (4.00 / 2)

If you are in a pharmacy, and notice someone who is trying to obtain medicine but cannot because they do not have the funds, if you can afford it, please just pay their bill.

It might save them from pain, from illness, or even from death, at least for a month.

one man's conspiracy is another man's business plan
Blog updated as needed

by DuctapeFatwa (DuctapeFatwa@yahoo.com) on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 06:15:05 PM EST

Re: Appeal to more affluent readers (4.00 / 2)

or as bush might say-'love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself'...or whatever the hell crap he tries to say when trying to sound compassionate.

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi

by chocolate ink on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 09:40:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D: Most Find It "Puzzing" (none / 1)

There's so much hidden crap in this bill...so far almost no one has signed up for this yet I wonder if people on Medicare are aware that for every month they don't sign up they are penalized 1%?

My understanding was that you 'had' to sign up for it if you were on Medicare--?..and every month that you don't that is where the penalty comes in..if you wait a year that means that whatever plan you sign up for there is a 12% added cost over the regular price?

I wish there was someone that could get a hold of the actual bill...I would bet there are a lot more surprises like that in it than has been reported.

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi

by chocolate ink on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 12:03:33 PM EST

Bill (none / 1)

On my things-to-do list! (Keeps getting longer every day!)

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 06:12:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bill (none / 0)

how would we go about getting a copy of that entire bill?

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi

by chocolate ink on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 09:41:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bill (none / 0)

Well, it is public record...should be available somewhere...

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Mon Jan 23rd, 2006 at 10:13:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Medicare D: Most Find It "Puzzing" | 13 comments (13 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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