Drug Plan Made Easy!

R

Rimrock

Moderator
Check this out! These are his actual words! Verbatim!
PRES. BUSH HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING IN TAMPA ON FEB 4, 2005 .
Bush Explains Medicare Drug Bill -- Verbatim Quote



WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: "I don't really understand. How is the new plan going to fix the problem?"


Verbatim response: President George W Bush

'Because the -- all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculated, for example, is on the table. Whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those -- changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be -- or closer delivered to that has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the -- like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate -- the benefits will rise based upon inflation, supposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.'

Feel free to pass this on to those seeking clarity on this most urgent of issues facing America's seniors!


Rimrock
 
this guy graduated from yale?

In other news, I've had to call the medicare hotline on behalf of patients and it's utterly horrendous. Takes forever and a day to get anyone on the line and most of the time they have no idea how to get things done. Luckily most of the major pharmaceutical companies have taken it upon themselves to put up their own Part D hotlines and these people (especially the GSK and Namenda folk) really know what they're talking about.

I can't believe they expect the majority of seniors to get their information online. :rolleyes:
 
LOL! I'd probably make about as much sense if I tried to wing an answer in front of a crowd, but at least I have the good sense to do nothing which would cause me to become President. ;)
 
I don't see a problem here I understood it:D :D I understand alot of different languages and this is just Political speak. He said "Lady we are going to screw you and everyone else with this plan and you just don't get it". Now if you fellows need an interpetor let me know.

25
 
If you ever want some light reading, check out the provisions of Medicare parts A and B. Even the layman's terms provided require study to understand. Granted the provisions outlined in any insurance policy are difficult to decipher, most insurance policies have a summary of benefits and policy restrictions which are in layman's terms.

Seniors in general have never understood Medicare. They have relied on health care providers and Medicare supplement ins agents for explanations. Sometimes this information or their interpretation of it are erroneous. My dad was a Medicare supplement and nursing home ins. agent for 30 years, he received calls daily from his policy holders for clarification of their ins policy's and Medicare's provisions.

If Medicare is an example of what we would get with national health care, No thanks.

I know Rim and Red (etal) love these sound bites. :) :D

GWB command of words is his equivalent BC's oral office; Reagan's broccoli, jelly beans, and Bonzo; Carter's Billy; Ford's clumsiness; etc. They all provide us with some humor when otherwise there would be nothing to laugh at Politically.;)
 
Gun-related how?
Click to expand...

"Round table discussions range from the Bill of Rights, to concealed carry, to general political issues."

If this isnt a political issue I dont know what is. As far as being firearm related, I spend about $500.00 every three months for my part of the insurance copayment for my wifes medicine. I could buy a new pistol every three months with that or a top notch rifle every 6 months. Imagine what the cost would be without insurance :eek: How the hell do our older senior citizens afford medicine ?

Its getting to the point where it going to be worth the drive or a bus trip down to mexican Border just to buy prescription drugs.

Its a shame that the a Guy like Billy Tauzin (R-La.) can oversee prescription medicine legislation then retire to a plus job with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (" a powerful trade group that marshaled an army of lobbyists last year to successfully support a bill overhauling Medicare and establishing the first prescription drug benefit for seniors.") His pay package is worth about 2 million a year :mad:

Maybe I am just a paranoid old fart, but that sounds like a conflict of interest?

The legislation prohibited the federal government from negotiating for lower prices :mad: I wonder what that would save the Veterans Administration in yearly costs that could be put back in the system?

Plus a prohibition on importing drugs from Canada because the may be tainted or bogus....

"Nancy Popkin, a Salem resident who has been ordering the osteoporosis treatment Fosamax from Canadian pharmacies for years, was one of those recently targeted. Popkin said she was surprised when, instead of her usual shipment of 12 tablets, she was mailed a form letter accompanied by a flier featuring a snake coiled around a drug bottle.

The notice, from the Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection, said her medication had been seized because ''virtually all" drugs imported by individuals into the United States are unapproved for consumption here or are dispensed without a valid prescription. The letter cited a federal statute, although there is no penalty for violating it.

Popkin was warned that only drug makers can import prescription medications from foreign countries -- even if they were manufactured in the United States."

so you cant import a drug from Canada that was made in the United States..

So its great to know that Congress & Bush have the citizens back when it concerns healthcare. :cool:

Like COL Hackworth says, " a fish rots from the head down" are you smellin what I'm smellin?

Maybe thats why the borders are wide open because Homeland Security is too busy roustin old folks outa thier medicine.
 
Dont saw bad things about Bush.He fixed it so my Med.bills went from 180.00 A month to 985.00 A month.so now I do not have to take as many pills.:eek:
 
GWB command of words is his equivalent BC's oral office; Reagan's broccoli, jelly beans, and Bonzo; Carter's Billy; Ford's clumsiness; etc. They all provide us with some humor when otherwise there would be nothing to laugh at Politically.
Click to expand...
Hi pipoman! I agree with you on the humorous aspects per you list.
However I have trouble equating jelly beans, brocoli, an occassional stumble, a half wit brother or even bc BC's oval escapades to the inability of the most powerful human being in the World to speak the English Language.
Rarely do the masses suffer from bad brocoli, jelly beans or even bad sex.
Unfortunately when W speaks everyone is effected.
Isn't basic literacy a vital component of responsible leadership in a democracy?
Recently a commentator, I think it was Chris Mathews asked why does the President talk to some of these town hall crowds like he is explaining something to kindergarteners?...The response among the Washington crowd was "because that's the way they had to explain it to him!:(
Honestly I believe he's a huge embarrassment to this great country.:o
Setting aside the embarassment aspects, isn't basic literacy a vital component of responsible leadership in a democracy? How do you lead and govern if you can't speak or conceptualize?
I'm afraid we are learning that he can't!
Whether it's the drug plan, or the ports deal, or tax breaks for the top 2% or
homeland security, or the war, or leaky borders or guest worker tickets, or FEMA or the NSA up your skirt and in your Google, or foreign relations and nation building or the out of control spending and subsequent deficit and last but not least gun rights.
These are crucial issues to all Americans who look to the President of the United States to help provide clarity, focus and even some answers.
How can that be accomplished when the extent of his communicative skills rise to the level of his words in the initial post?


Rimrock
 
Drug plan?

Sounds like someone is on drugs or his chip is acting up. The problems are coming at them so fast the don't have any answers, or they can't tell us the truth it's so bad.
 
I hate to try to talk to DU bombthrowers but for the rest of the readers this might be helpful:

If a person is having trouble finding a good Part D plan using techniques outlined at http://www.medicare.gov/ they can get their pharmacist to run their meds and come up with a working answer in very short order.

Of the people I've questioned face to face on this issue since January(maybe 500) I've met a small handful whose cost has gone up, a couple having problems meeting their co-payments and all the rest have been saving money, some a few bucks and some as much as $2500 per month.
 
I have talked to A lot more than 500 and have found ONE that this peace of crap plan helped.they take one pill a day. I take 23 dif.meds.a day . 3 of them 2 times a day.2 of them 5 times a day. AND HE DID SCREW ME...
 
I can tell you from first hand experience accessing 10's of thousands of middle class folks...they aren't being helped.
Right now the urgency is making a decision. Most of them just want to understand it. After sending them the original bit of buffoonism by "W" I make sure they get real help from someone knowledgeable as well as literate.
They are always first horrofied and then appreciative!
Maybe I'll pursue "capturing oine of these "W"isdom bits on each of the many life and death matters facing Americans today!
Make a helluva board game!

Rimrock
 
So what's this thread about - complaining about the drug plan or criticizing Bush's speaking skills? I'll take the less probable motive and discuss the drug plan.

The drug plan stinks. And the drug plan proposed by the Democrats also stank. Both plans were based on wealth transfer to otherwise maintain the status quo.

Drugs in the US are more expensive than they need to be because we expect (and demand through our lawyers) perfection. First, we have the incredibly expensive and time-consuming process of getting FDA approval for drugs. Then, if someone has a problem with a drug, the lawyers have a bonanza suing the drug companies.

Loosen the FDA process and cap lawsuits and the drug companies could provide drugs in the US at the same lower prices that they charge in other countries.

BTW, I am not advocating totally ignoring quality in drugs. But there is a big difference in cost between a drug with a problem rate of one in a million and a drug with a problem rate of one in a hundred thousand. And for someone who can't afford the one-in-a-million drug, a one-in-a-hundred-thousand drug might look very attractive.
 
Valid points gc70, at least about the cost control difficulties. On the other hand I'm seeing a lot of companies more willing to put the truly indigent on patient assistance programs.

The trouble is still with your premise that the present plan stinks, although I do agree you're going to have problems when you have any sort of government wealth redistribution. There has been a lot of apprehension and worry but the truth is that the present plan offers major improvements in availability, choice and cost for dual M'Care/M'CaidQMB, M'Care standalone and the chronically ill population in general.

I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who came in the first time moaning and worried and miserable, absolutely positive that they were being shafted and afraid to look, but who returned saying,"yes it worked out. The drugstore ran my medicines and they found me a plan. I'm paying $X a month, much better than before. I'm really surprised." There is a wide variety of choices in the 63 plans my state offers.

There are three things which are really telling. First, our state medicaid agency (run by Democrat political appointees I might add) which carried out initial assignments for the dual M'Care/M'CaidQMB seemed to be nearly 100% wrong and universally assigned people to the highest cost alternatives. Second, of the people I've met and talked to who really did have a cost increase, nearly all are members of unions with union based group medicare supplemental policies. I count my mother in this latter group. She is unhappy but at least she acknowledges the fact that the union bosses are continuing to screw the members, even as she continues to spout their political propaganda. (I've noticed here on TFL that the most voracious of the Bush bashers seem to consistantly be union bosses or retired union bosses, so one has to take their discussion with a grain of salt.) Third, most of the people who've had to change medications have had to do so to nearly equivalant medications.
 
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