Democrats: Medicare drug program bewildering, costly

[Judi Lynn]

Democrats: Medicare drug program bewildering, costly
POSTED: 11:29 a.m. EDT, September 16, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats say failed Republican policies are behind rising Medicare premiums that are leaving millions of older Americans scrambling for basic health care.

Democrat Chris Murphy, a Connecticut state senator who is challenging 12-term Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson, criticized the GOP for failing to embrace the reforms needed to give seniors a break from increased health care costs.

"It's time for new leadership in Congress, to take on President Bush's bad plan and take the Medicare drug program in a new direction," Murphy said Saturday in his party's weekly radio address.

Murphy warned that unless Democrats can step in with new ideas, such as allowing the government to negotiate for lower Medicare prescription drug prices, health costs will continue rising for seniors.
(snip/...)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/16/dems.radio.ap/index.html

[MysteryToMyself]

1. We need a Medicare and Social Security Forum

There was a lot of news online last weekend, but not much on DU, because of the increase of premiums. There was a lot about means testing. There was a lot of mention of Medicare out of pocket costs costing $360,000 for a couple after retirement. That was with all Medicare insurances.

Many have paid into Medicare for 40 plus years. Their employers match their Medicare contribution. We pay those contributions so we could be eligible for affordable health care after we retired or became disabled.

Most of the articles seem to have disappeared about the out of pocket expenses and the higher premiums. When I posted about it last weekend I used links, but I can’t use search on here so I can’t find those posts.

CNN just had a group on blasting Social Security. They said the young people should be throwing a fit about having to contribute to Social Security. They were all in agreement. They made said it wouldn’t be there for anyone over 50. They conveniently forgot to mention that we have set aside money since 1983 so we wouldn’t be a burden on the younger generation. That is those bonds they don't want to pay back.

So how do those who rely on Social Security pay for those Medicare bills? It looks like they plan to wipe out those who have any money saved with the high cost of health care. What jerks!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Make everybody eligible for medicare and uncap SS.

Restore progressive tax to pay for it.

/Reform

[madfloridian]

3. Kick. This is needed.

:kick:

[LiberalHeart]

4. What is the GOP rationale for NOT getting better deals from drug companies

Re the Rx plan: I don't know what those arguing against getting the best price used to support their argument. Anybody remember what that was?