Senior Citizen Remarks

Am I the only Senior Citizen that finds the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (Public Law No. 108-173, 117

Stat. 2066, to be not only boring, but completely insensitive to the needs of many of my fellow seniors.

I was totally shocked when I found out what was meant by “being in the donut hole.” In my youth, that statement was implying something extremely different…

I am referring to the seniors that are not as fortunate as others financially because of the recent Stock Market fiasco, which wiped out many retirement accounts, or some other event that caused them to require more assistance then they anticipated.

If you haven’t read or heard of the Law let me fill you in short form. Medicare and Medicaid particpants, with an insurance policy which covers Prescription Drugs, only have to pay $1, $3 or $5 Dollars depending on the type of prescription being filled. [PRIOR TO THIS BILL BEING PASSED, MOST PEOPLE HAVING COVERAGE FROM THEIR INSURANCE PAID NOTHING when they picked up their ’scripts. The insurance did what it was supposed to. Lo and behold, the MMA law is passed. At first reading it sounds like it is going to be pretty good. The first $2,250 spent on ’scripts is covered, less the deductible.

When you reach an expenditure of $2,250 you fall into the “donut hole.” Now you have to pay for all the ’scripts until you reach the $3,500 +/- figure, THEN THE LAW TAKES OVER AGAIN.

I know of several folks that have prescriptions which total $500-$600 or $700 per month, and have a very limited Soc. Sec. check coming in monthly. Now here’s the thing, do they pay their rent or mortgage? Buy their needed medication or choose to eat? Something is not right!

The comedienne Wanda Sykes hit the nail right on the head when she did her sketch about older folks having to make a decision right now, “can’t wait, this has to be reported immediately or you lose out on everything.”

If someone has an explanation of this situation along with many other short comings that involve the Seniors of this Nation, I sure would like to hear them.

Oh yeah, we haven’t even toucjed on the children and low income housing yet. Tune in, we’ll get there.