Anyone have stories about bush's social security drug plan?

[cynatnite]

My grandmother is 83 years old and only takes one prescription. It costs very little and she considers herself lucky.

In May she can sign up for the prescription drug plan. At this point it's not worth the money since she is fairly healthy. They explained to her that if she waits after May, she will lose a percentage of the coverage. The longer she waits, the more she will lose.

She's penalized for being healthy.

[Why Syzygy]

1. Actually if she wait until that date in May

that's when the penalties start. I haven't gotten this one figured out. It is a maze. But look at who made it up. We need some lawmakers who actually know what they are doing.

[ClintonTyree]

2. My situation........

about the same as your Grandmother's but I take more medications. However, they total less than what my premiums would be but if I don't sign up by May it will cost me more to buy into the plan. Sooner or later I'll have to take more medications, I'm sure, but right now it doesn't help me a bit.
This is how it benefits the pharmaceutical companies: my prescriptions total about 75 dollars a month IF I get them at a discount pharmacy such as Wal*Mart. With my premiums and co-pay I'd just about break even. IF however I get my prescriptions filled at one of the higher end pharmacies, they cost more but I still pay the same price when factoring in premiums and co-pay. The government pays the increased difference to the pharmaceutical companies and the more expensive pharmacy. It doesn't benefit me one iota but the pharms are stealing our tax dollars and the bush administration is helping them do it.
This plan was designed by and for the pharms. It isn't much good to anyone else. :puke:

[Another Bill C.]

3. Here's one solution

Humana has a drug plan that costs $1.87 per month. If you sign up for this plan, you can avoid the penalties for signing up after May 15. Your cost will be 22.44 a year. It's possible the premium amount will rise in the future but for now it's reasonable insurance against later penalties.

[cynatnite]

4. Just called and told her about it

She's going to look into it.

Thanks for the info!

[Another Bill C.]

5. Here's a link

http://www.humana-medicare.com/medicare-part-d.asp

[OneBlueSky]

6. I currently get a very expensive medication at no cost . . .

from the manufacturer through their Patient Assistance Program . . . that program will soon no longer be available to me because, since I'm on Medicare, I qualify for Part D . . . whether I actually enroll is irrelevant, as is the fact that NONE of the 60 or more plans available in my are include this medication in their "formularies," i.e. the lists of drugs they'll pay for . . . no doubt because of its cost . . .

so beginning sometime after May 15, I'll have to pay an additional $250 per month for the generic brand of this medication (the brand name would be over $650), plus whatever the Part D program will cost me should I decide to enroll (and that's not at all certain yet) . . .

just navigating the variety of plans is damned near a full-time job, and extremely complicated even for someone with a college degree, a fair level of computer literacy, and net access . . . I shudder to think what less educated and less wired individuals must be going through trying to figure this abomination out . . . for many, it has to be an impossible task . . .