An analysis out this week by Avalere Health, a for-profit research firm in Washington, found 308 stand-alone drug plans nationwide next year eligible to serve low-income residents, down about 200 from this year. Those beneficiaries are subsidized by the government. They pay little or no monthly premiums and generally have lower out-of-pocket costs, called deductibles, for drugs than do higher-income policyholders.
The Medicare Part D coverage for drugs is already flawed. Most seniors have had to leave their drugs at the pharmacy counter as prices continue to increase and that’s because most beneficiaries have exceeded their maximum benefits ($2510) with their plan and find themselves now in the gap or what most people refer to as “the donut hole” where out of pocket expenses must exceed $4050 for catastrophic coverage to kick in. Most people never get past it and are forced to wait until January 1 to start all over again.
It’s sad to see that health care is still not fixed in this country. Hopefully, with the upcoming election, things will be different. Health care should be a right, not a privilege for the few and the wealthy. I don’t see how anyone could vote for McCain who offers up healthcare for the free market. It begs to question why a democracy such as ours can have a Congress and President with health care benefits while those who vote them into office do not. It is an outrage.
via USA Today
