Scathing article front and center in today's CR Gazette (Medicare)

[CornField]

No link because ... well ... it's the Gazette... LOL! Here's an excerpt:

Hard to take: End of free medication means tough times for Medicare recipients

by Cindy Hadish

...

"It's getting down to, (Ruby) will have her pills. I'll just go without mine," he (Duane Elsbury) said. "What can you do? It's either me or her."

A diabetic, Duane takes insulin and seven other medications daily. Ruby, who had a heart attack three years ago, takes five drugs every day.

Free medication provided by pharmaceutical companies helped the couple make ends meet, but the introduction of Medicare Part D in January led some drug firms to end their patient assistance programs for people over age 65 and the disabled who qualify for the new Medicare plan.

...

"Working hard in America doesn't mean success anymore," she (Exec. Director Darlene Schmidt, CR Free Clinic) said. "It doesn't matter how hard you work."

I wish there was an online version, because this is an excellent article. It outlines the income guidelines under Plan D ($12,919 singles, $17,320 for couples). In addition, some people who are below those guidelines are being disqualified due to assets, such as pre-paid funeral arrangements.

The Elsbury couple introduced in the article were told their drug premiums would be between $308 and $542 per month -- roughly half of Duane's $850 pension. Because of their increased expenses, the wife, Ruby, has stopped taking one of her blood pressure medications, placing her at higher risk of heart failure or stroke.

This whole mess just makes me sick to my stomach. The Elsbury couple and all those like them are people who have worked their entire lives. Our society is going to be judged for our treatment of our most vulnerable. I'm embarrassed for us.

[rurallib]

1. Time for them to get jobs that provide health care

Whoops - not many of them any more either.
This whole health care thing is making me so effing mad. And my idiot du jour - Jeff Kaufmann - talks about 'making the insurance industry mad' by proposing them stinking medical savings accounts.
I have a friend who is a repub, still a repub, who has a $25,000 deductible. He simply says he can't get sick, but he does have Crone's disease that flares up occassionally and puts him out. My SIL hurt her ankle at work 10 months ago. She is finally seeing a doctor after fighting with her company over who paid the bill.
Just think with the one payer system, or socialized medicine or whatever you wnat to call it this shit wouldn't happen.
Won't be long until employers will totally quit offering health care because they can't afford it. And there is no law that says they must provide it. Christ what a mess.