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    • It's just amazing how some people readily forget how much they like some government regulations and oversight. These guys (conservatives) always seem to follow the same mantra: If the...

      3 months ago by AmericanMikey

      in Small Government Cake Eaters

    • Interesting post as always! thanks for posting.

      3 months ago by Quotes

      in Small Government Cake Eaters

    • Hey mikey, you have covered it really very well, I could agree to all the reasons you have out forward, thanks for the post.

      3 months ago by Quotes

      in Why do Republicans hate Americans so much?

    • "China owns us and Mexico has become the 51st State," Sadly, this has been the case for some time now.

      3 months ago by AmericanMikey

      in We back.

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      3 months ago by Phil Staudt

      in We back.

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Three Words, One Circus; Medicare Open Enrollment.

Started by AmericanMikey · 7 months ago

Three words, one circus; Medicare open enrollment. On the surface, the goal seems simple enough: provide health care services for senior citizens and those who are permanently disabled. Subcutaneous exploration reveals a dark labyrinth of confusion, full of dubious pitfalls and misinformat ... Continue reading »

4 comments

  • Drew

    7 months ago

    The idea behind cost sharing in Medicare part D, such as the deductible, high copays, and the rediculous "doughnut hole" in coverage is to make seniors more aware of spending and trim unnecessary expenditures. The whole idea is absurd, because all it does is make seniors stop taking necessary medications when they can no longer afford them. Plus, especially when it comes to a senior population, they shouldn't have the burden of deciding what medications are expendable in the first place. The burden should be placed on physicians to know what medications should be prescribed and which can be discontinued, and when generics are appropriate and when more expensive name brands are worthwhile. If stricter controls and benefits were given to physicians for cost-effective prescriptions with effective health outcomes, the system would be all the better for it.
    reply
  • AmericanMikey

    7 months ago

    Drew,

    I tend to agree with the latter half of your comment, but I'm a little perplexed by the initial discussion. Do you advocate that seniors be given open/cost free access to all health services with no cost-sharing component? Studies have shown that seniors don't typically stop taking necessary medications under the current system, despite the cost being quite burdensome to them.

    -M
    reply
  • Drew

    7 months ago

    Mikey,

    I don't advocate for eliminating any cost sharing component, merely the severity of the cost sharing with relation to Medicare Part D. It is a convoluted system that usually requires looking into Medigap policies, etc., and I think there is much room for improvement. Perhaps studies have shown that the majority of seniors do not stop taking their meds despite the high cost, although i had read that it is a potential and not uncommon outcome. Regardless, it is quite burdensome.
    reply
  • AmericanMikey

    7 months ago

    Indeed what you say is true. There are many problems with Medicare Part D; however, pre-part d seniors had to pay for the total cost of their drugs. Burdensome is a very accurate description.
    reply

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