Nov. 27, 2005 - 21:49 MST

EXPECT BETTER ?

Heather and I are not the only ones it appears. In the Eugene Register-Guard this morning is an article from The New York Times, I quote here in full:

INSURER TACTICS FOR DRUG PLAN IRK SENIORS

WASHINGTON -- "Bush administration officials say they have received scores of complaints about the aggressive tactics used by some insurance companies and agents to market Medicare's new prescription drug benefit."

"The officials said they would take disciplinary action if they found that the tactics had broken federal rules."

"Possible violations reported to Medicare officials in the past few weeks include uninvited door-to-door solicitation of business and misrepresentation of insurance products."

"Federal and state officials said they also had received complaints that some insurance agents identified themselves as working for the Social Security Administration or the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services."

"In addition, they said, some insurance agents have asked beneficiaries for personal information such as Social Security numbers and credit card or bank account numbers."

"These steps are illegal, totally inappropriate and unacceptable," said Patricia Smith , who works with health plans as director of the Medicare Advantage Group at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "They not only endanger the beneficiary. They could endanger the program. This will draw the ire of people who are legitimately looking at the program to make sure beneficiaries are protected."

"The federal government can take a range of compliance actions, such as imposing a corrective action plan on an insurer or freezing its enrollment. States can fine insurance agents and suspend or revoke licenses. Insurers are rushing into the Medicare market, offering drug coverage to 42 million people who are 65 or older or disabled. The new drug benefit is heavily subsidized by the federal government, but will be delivered by private health plans and insurers."

"Many of the insurers have little experience with Medicare. Marketing began Oct. 1. The benefit takes effect Jan. 1."

"++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I have read what information sent me by the government, tried to find out more but have had little luck. From what I have heard, when the cost of drugs for a beneficiary exceed a certain amount -- then that person is on their own -- until drugs costs for them go above a certain point -- then their drugs will be covered from there on. I guess that is what is called the "doughnut hole," some more I have gathered (whether true or not I am not sure) is that the price of drugs varies greatly from what most plans pay. Even generics seem to have slipped into variations, and some not even covered.

So for those reasons I am discontented that I have not been properly informed by our government.

The rush to sell, sell, sell does not seem to be backed up with information that is accurate or true and I doubt that the sellers can keep up with their promises.

So it looks as if the pharmaceutical companies can reap a huge benefit at the expense of people on Medicare. Seems to leave a person in the middle of a dilemma too, what if he or she is on medication that is required daily to stay alive and healthy, and the expense of them goes into the "doughnut hole" then that person will have to pay shelf price at the drugstore for their medicine until what ? ? ? ? they die or live long enough to be covered once more ? The prescription medicines I am on we could not afford their price at the drugstore. Most of them are generic as well. But the price at the drugstore is far beyond what we can afford, and Heather has prescription medications that are generic and, evenso, costly at drug store prices.

So, are we supposed to live up to our responsibility and do as some expect us to do, do our duty and, die ?

The governments Prescription Drug plan seems to me to be slanted toward the benefit of the drug companies rather than the individual.

And then the kicker, quote, "The new drug benefit is havily subsicized by the federal government, but will be quote DELIVERED BY PRIVATE HEALTH PLANS AND INSURERS," unquote - - - - - privatization shows its ugly snout once more. If the private health plans are looking to profit and the insurers are looking to profit -- out of whose pocket do those moneys originate ? Yours and mine of course.

With this Bushwhacking administration's finger in the pie, how on earth could I EXPECT BETTER ? . . . . . . . . . . .

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