Bush pitches $20 monthly Medicare drug premiums

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N29211653.htm

Bush pitches $20 monthly Medicare drug premiums

EL MIRAGE, Ariz., Aug 29 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Monday urged skeptical senior citizens to sign up for a new Medicare prescription drug benefit program, touting a choice of plans with monthly premiums as low as $20.

In a speech to a group of seniors at the Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort and Country Club, Bush urged Arizona's 780,000 Medicare beneficiaries to sign up for the new benefit in November.

The Health and Human Services Department said every state except Alaska would have such an inexpensive option, as well as pricier choices.

"This plan will cut your drug bills by half. You need to look at it, you need to look at what's available," Bush said.

[KyndCulture]

1. what a crock of shit..

how's he gonna pull THAT one off? What a blatent lie.

[saigon68]

34. The MOTHER FUCKER gets his stuff for FREE.

WHAT A FUCKING STTOGE.

[bleedingheart]

2. You have to be almost bankrupt in order to qualify for this program

Read this snippet

"Eligibility for the Medicare-Approved Prescription Drug Discount Card & $600
Drug Discount Card Eligibility: Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the drug discount card program if they are enrolled under Part A or B, so long as the beneficiary is not receiving outpatient drug benefits through Medicaid, including 1115 waivers.

$600 Eligibility: Beneficiaries are eligible for up to $600 a year toward prescription drugs if their income is not more than 135% of the poverty line ($12,123 for single individuals or $16,362 for married individuals in 2003). Also, to qualify for these funds, beneficiaries must not be receiving outpatient drug coverage from other sources, including Medicaid, TRICARE, group health insurance or health insurance coverage, or FEHBP. Generally, once a person qualifies for the $600, they are qualified until the new Medicare drug benefit begins.

"
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/discountdrugs/overview.asp

[shaniqua6392]

3. Our senior citizens are smarter than that.

After all, they were the ones that showed extreme distrust at Bush trying to "fix" Social Security. No matter how many times he reassured them that it would not effect those over age 55, they still hated it. There may be many seniors that voted for him. But when he tried to touch what little money and medical insurance they get from government, they will not let him do it. Remember all the trouble * & friends tried to give AARP when he began to talk of Social Security.

[cosmicdot]

4. so the traveling salesman spoke at a resort & country club?

hmmm ... just where all us Medicare people hang out ...

"as well as pricier choices" (from the article)

for starters, why not just use one's Medicare card directly with the pharmacy, and cut-out Bu$h's corporate middle man?

[ninkasi]

21. Well, in my opinion...

Cutting out Bush's corporate middle man would completely destroy Bush's reasons for trying to ram this scam down our throats. Remember, as in all other legislation he wants passed, the benefit will be to big business, and his cronies. The last thing on what passes for his mind is helping us, the average citizens of this country.

[Sanity Claws]

5. He is utterly irrelevant

Most on people's minds these days is the war and gas prices. Today, throw in Katrina. What he's talking about doesn't address our concerns.

[raysr]

6. I'm not going to use it.

It's ironic that he is trying to kill SS all the while pushing this presciption bullshit. Fuck him with the Guckert dick he rode in on!

[fooj]

7. What's with his desperation at getting this Medicare passed...

What's the hurry? Where's the fire?

peace.

[HadItUpToHere]

9. there are seniors out there to gouge-

and they aren't going to live forever.

[gratuitous]

8. "You need to look at it"

Why does the President of the United States sound like a boiler room telemarketer pitching cold call dubious investments?

[Tace]

29. Bulls Eye

Bravo!

[Skittles]

35. becuase that is pretty much what he is

he certainly is not a real president

[Javaman]

10. This is a great deal!!!

You see, because in morons* biarro way of thinking, given all his tax cuts the rich and the widening gap between rich and poor, this will help us all out when we (the ones that toil and sweat and actually do hard work) will have something to show for ourselves when we are deciding between, food, rent, or our meds in our old age.
Gee what a wonderful guy*

colossal failure*

[Tace]

30. I Won't Mention Guillotine As One Of The Choices

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. As low as $20.

If you need aspirin.

[hopein08]

22. My thoughts exactly...

if it's "as low as $20", what dear Mr. President is it as HIGH as?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

37. How high?

Everything you own, plus interest.

[stepnw1f]

12. Like a Used Car Salesman

That's what he is.

[napi21]

13. Hmmm. I heard a report somewhere that very few seniors were signing up

for his new program! I know the HHS guy was trying to push this program a few months ago and I guess he failed.

Shrub was so happy that he bribed and coerced just enough congressmen to vote this in, he thought he'd be a big hero! THEN the seniors found out the truth, and they're not buying it.

I think he'd trying to push it because if there aren't enough people sign up, none of the insurance companies are going to back it either!

HA HA HA I hope they hae to recind it because none of the people want it!!!!

[LibinMo]

16. This Senior is saying no thanks

to this ripoff. We have Medicare thru United Healthcare-no premium other than the ones that Medicare witholds from Social Security.
As long as we stick with generics we can get 90 day's supply for $39. Name brand drugs are about the same as Canadian Pharmacy prices.

Although I'm somewhat uneasy about United making benefit changes in January, I'm not signing up for Bush's shell game. As it stands now it would COST me well over $300 a year.

[Roland99]

19. That's right. This was the bill where voting was held open for *3 HOURS*!

beyond the normal time period when voting was over.

[anitar1]

26. My pharmacist said not to fall for it. Nice lady.n/t

[Demeter]

14. Medicare People Pitch Bush--Now That's A Headline!

It's like water torture---drip, drip, drip....when is the dam gonna blow, anyway?

[Judi Lynn]

15. Bush urges skeptical seniors to sign up for Medicare prescription benefit

Bush urges skeptical seniors to sign up for Medicare prescription benefit

August 29, 2005

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. President Bush is stumping in Arizona and California today, trying to get skeptical seniors to sign up for Medicare's prescription drug benefit.

The plan goes into effect January first -- and Bush told an audience of seniors near Phoenix it's a good deal.

However, surveys suggest half or more of eligible seniors don't plan to enroll.

Bush said he "understands, many seniors don't want to change."

Critics have called the benefit expensive and confusing -- with recipients needing to choose among competing private plans.
(snip/...)

http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3779087

[WePurrsevere]

17. Disabled on SSD & Medicare - neither of us will be signing up for this

it's not worth it to us at all.

With money so very tight and since we're rarely use conventional medical we've even discussed dropping Plan B all together although we fear something catastrophic. It may not sound like much to some but that extra $140. a month sure would help especially if oil prices keep going up and although with them food, etc. If the COLA Congress approves for those on SSD and SSR isn't a decent enough one this year we may not have a choice. :(

(BTW: one of my bug-a-boos is how the news almost always play up the seniors in conjunction with Social Security and Medicaire when the fact is that millions on Soc Sec and Medicaire are disabled and are also impacted by every damnass thing BUSHco and our Reps do to Social Security and to ruin Social Security).

[Roland99]

18. "You need to buy into my catapaulted propaganda. It makes my buddies rich"

[Rainscents]

20. FUCK YOU BUSH!!! I ain't buying into your bullshit!

I'm on medicare A&B... You can kiss my ass!!!

Even AARP is NOT buying into this shit this time!!! They got fooled last time buying into Bush's Medicaid prescription card crap, but NOT this time!!!

[bobbieinok]

32. AARP told me after Jan 1 they can no longer include prescription

payments in their plans.....no company can....so I and J will be gone

also, a friend, AARP, and NPR report today all said: seniors eligible to sign up for prescription card and do not and then want to later will have to pay a penalty

as I understand it, if you're taking very many prescriptions you're more or less going to be required to sign up for this eventually

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

23. How long before "competition" forces the low end

providers out of biz?

Then there will be two choices... take it, or leave it.

[Indykatie]

24. Misunderstanding on New Program

THere are no income restrictions for coverage under Medicare Part D although low income folks can get the coverage for free. The cost for the program if you don't qualify for subsidy has been released by CMS as $32. Bush should have been honest and explained that to get the $20 price you must qualify for the subsidy.

I do health care and benefit design work and am no supporter of this program but it is not a bad deal for those with NO coverage. The problem is that many employers with superior plans will terminate their plans to save money leaving those Retirees worse off.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

25. Yes, I understand that part... what I mean, is

sure there are dozens of plans, with several in the "affordable" range now, but with the much touted competition, these offerings will shrink and shrink until only the largest companies.... Merck and SKB let's say for argument's sake are left.

Then where will be the affordable options?

no where. that's where.

[WhiteTara]

27. oh right, then you get to pay on top of that

he is a thieving slime from the bottom of a scum pond. Our attorney general is filing suit against big pharmas for scamming medicare in the state.
IMPEACH BUSH AND SEND THEM ALL TO THE HAGUE

[Chicago Democrat]

28. Its a BIG PILE OF POOP

No Way! I ain't buying!

[SoCalDem]

31. JUST REGULATE THE COST OF THE DRUGS

Why should people have to "join" a pill-club and pay a fee for a card that "might" save them money:puke:

This "plan" is and was always about funneling money to drug companies. When it started, the FIRST phase was a big ole chunk 'o change to the pharma people to "study" the programs and come up with the card plan.. The joke? "Cards" have been available from pharmacies, and private companies for ages.. People don';t use them much, because they don;t really save enough to be worth the hassle.. and once signed up for the *² plan, they would be ineligible for others..

and the lead-time in the study plase just allowed the pharma companies to raise their prices 30%, so when the 20% discount kicks in, they are actually making 10% MORE..:puke:

[hellbound-liberal]

33. How appropriate that this speech was given in "El Mirage" AZ

Just like everything else this fraudulent bastard says and does. There is nothing really there!

[WinkyDink]

36. Huge problem for new Medicare recipients, though

I have read up on this, as my husband turns 65 in October, and we had to choose a "gap" plan.

From what I recall, private insurers will not be ALLOWED to offer
Prescription Drug Coverage (now offered to Medicare recipients as parts of Medi-Gap Plans H and J ) past January, 2006, and moreover will DROP this coverage from anyone not enrolled in that plan as of the DATE of the passing of the Medicare Modification Act.

I.e., Bush's PDC plan is in like Flynn, for those not yet, as I type, 65.

Oh, yeah: There's a smart-alec taunt that you MIGHT be able still from your employer, if you are retired and Medicare-eligible, to maintain the employer's PDC plan---IF SAID PLAN IS DEEMED "CREDITABLE" BY THE GOVERNMENT.
Would it surprise anyone that not even Capital Blue Cross was so deemed? Didn't think so.
(Don't know why the italics!)