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Letter to the editor: prescription drug plan is misleading

Patient Financial Services Weekly Advisor, October 15, 2004

The Medicare prescription drug plan that is being touted by the current administration is at best misleading and at worst disgraceful. Medicare recipients have to sign up with one of a myriad of plans, all with different provisions.

There is an enrollment fee and there are co-pays associated with the plans. The plans offer discounts but the pharmaceutical companies can raise prices at any time which would in effect eliminate the advantage.

But here's the real problem: if a Medicare recipient, on a fixed income, cannot afford to pay $200 per month for a prescription how will a 10%, 15% or even 20% discount help?

Consider that the savings available by purchasing the prescription elsewhere, like Canada, is much more than anything offered by our government's program. The $600 discount available to very low-income retirees is an insult and grossly misleading.

The elderly, confused Medicare recipient is not benefiting from the program. Let's call it what it is, a political ploy by the current administration to lure the Medicare vote.

Lester Poris, CPAM
Manager, Credit/Collections
Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC

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