If they spend so much on high priced medicine, which some need to live, they have to start paying a large part of it for an extended period... some good program for the elderly...\n\nhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060427/ap_on_he_me/medicare_doughnut_hole;_ylt=AkwOS2cDpd3XGpXmBEW7upJZ24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
129375
The coverage gap, occurs when the prescription drug costs reach $2250 (in most cases.) The drug plan pays 75% and the beneficiary pays the other 25%.  During the coverage gap, the beneficiary is responsible for 100% of their drug costs, but after they spend $3600 out of pocket the plan pays 95% and the beneficiary pays 5%.\n\nThere are a few prescription plans that do not have a coverage gap.  \n\nNo plan is perfect, but for people that have no drug coverage at all, Medicare does help.  People on Medicaid and Medicare still pay very little for their meds.\n\nI am a Medicare customer service rep, so all I hear are complaints. People never call up and say that they are happy with their drug plan...
213004
Yeah... it's getting to the point where the majority of America won't be able to go to the doctor, because they can't afford insurance or the deductable, if they have insurance. \n\nI think it all comes down to... how much are you willing to pay to stay alive.. the answer is anything, so how does a capitolistic system work when you will pay anything for the service... it doesn't work... \n\nthe healthcare companies (both medical, insurance, both malpractice and health, and perscription companies) are all making huge profits... if you know anyone in the business, they are probably making more than most everyone else you know...\n\nWhen does the bubble bust... I think it will soon... especially if costs continue to go up like they have been.
382765
It seems you left out the part of the National debt being at an all time high, the 56 different options for Medicare that the elderly (and most others) cannot understand,Social Security being in a crisis, and that we are losing our men and women's lives in a war that even when won will not mean anything in your life when its over.
512666
You should be sure to thank your Republican Congressmen and President Bush.  Pharmaceutical Companies wrote the new prescription drug bill for Medicare and the Republican Congress passed it on straight party line votes and the President signed it.\n\nIncluded in the legislation is a restriction that precludes Medicare from using its large volume purchasing clout to negotiate drug prices.  It's a gravy program for Corporations delivered by the Republicans.  They love market forces as long as consumers have no bargaining power.
108685
We have WORKING Americans who are not even afforded these luxuries.  Paying for noncontributors and not even being able attain these services themselves is not fair. This is what is making health care, college education, etc. unattainable to working class people.  Why should we pay for them when we can't get these things ourselves?
511867
If you were lucky enough to create a savings for your retirement great! But for many others, living day to day on a minimal benifit is terrible.They  are our great survivors of the drought, wars, depression, etc...they have given many things in our life for us to live better. The governement should at least give them a proper income raise each year that coincide with their pay raises !!!!!
207738
At 62, you HAVE seen a doctor. NOW GO BACK AND ASK THIS SAME QUESTION..IT'S WHAT YOU PAY INSURANCE FOR...AND FURTHERMORE...DON'T LEAVE UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND!!
134680
A solution... government bite the bullet and pay it back...\n\nPrivatized systems work great for the 15 percent of the population that has the money to do that, but for the majority just barely making it by, they won't be able to save enough to actually retire, ever... \n\nSo, when all these people get retirement age, guess what, they're going to look at their private account, realize isn't not enough to do anything with, especially with inflation, and vote in someone who will take care of them...at a far greater cost to the gov. down the road...\n\nI would be willing to be that about 95 percent of people who push for "private accounts" already own stock... if the government switched over, the huge demand for stocks that would be created would push the stock market sky-high, making all those people very rich... that's really convenient isn't it...
634099
the medicare money has been used by every president and every congress for their major source of funding, if you try to pin this just on Bush you will end up looking like a moron. Most of the money goes into the general fund and is used for anything and everything.
1297
Those privileges would be nice but I don't see it as a big deal. The prices there are not significantly lower than elsewhere to make it worth much. I agree with the above commenter that health care and education are much more important. I would like to see better health care options for veterans.
141702
Helps to pay taxes. Don't you know that Social Security is a tax. It never was a savings plan for old age. Why do you think it can only continue if there are a constant flow of new members. Once the monthly checks are covered, the rest goes into the general tax fund. How can we give congress the good salary & perks if we have to account for every dollar. Bookkeeping cost would be too high & people might wonder what a congressman does for a iving?
464089
Its another way to spend the money the Government say they have not got!! Put the money into schooling and hospitals were its needed.  The kids nowadays will not listen to some super nanny!!  What will they do take the naughty children to the seaside for the day, give them a holiday, buy a new computer or game on taxpayers money!!!  I think our Goverment has gone bananas!!!
453897
Hi, I live in Ohio, near the lake, not far from Canada...\nAlot of people in this country have an insurance system that involves partial private pay and premiums taken out of your paycheck, much like a tax off the top. Very few have fully paid medical care anymore; most have either an individual or family "co-pay," which means depending on the insurance plan, a person could pay $500 (US) or more before insurance starts picking up the bill. In the US we also have Medicare or Medicaid that picks up for people over a certain age (like Medicare) or for people who are disabled and/or destitute or meet certain financial criteria (i.e. Medicaid.) There is also help available for families who have disabled or handicapped children. Most people of retirement age and others that would meet the traditional risk categories for something like a stroke would probably qualify for this if they don't already have some insurance through their retirement benefits. Unfortunately for most of these plans criteria is usually set so that for others who could medically and financially benefit they "slip through the crack." I know from both personal experience as well as from others that if you have something that isn't very serious that you try to treat it yourself and avoid the high medical bill even if you have insurance. For those who are uninsured or underinsured and don't qualify, if they have a tragic accident or sudden illness, they go to the hospital and damn the consequences. Most people would go to save themselves or their families lives, and then either force the hospital to write it off as bad debt, or pay what they can when they can, or file bankruptcy...
300642
It could be the golden years though people aren't smart enough to plan for it. Though sometimes our health, no matter how good we take care of ourselves, starts to fade. The best we can do is not get over weight, eat right take care of ourselves finacially, physically, emotionally mentally and most of all spiritally through Christ. I take care of the elderly and say all the time. Man, I don't want to get old.
68995
I think "writer" was on the right track...\n\nToo many people drawing social security, too few paying in.\n\nToo many people with a lower tax base, therefore, less income tax being paid into our system.\n\nToo many people using community "help" centers, ie, food banks, energy assistance, etc, with again, too few people donating to these centers.\n\nShortages in immunizations, like the flu shot shortage we just went through...(usually recommended for the very young & the elderly)\n\n(Yeah, most of these I think are financial burdens, it does seem that most of these could have been planned ahead for if we had only done it...)
583114
Yes, Americans do have to pay for their own health care IF they are lucky enough to have the money to afford it.  Otherwise, they have no insurance.  Where do our taxes go?  Every place EXCEPT back to the American people.  That's why we have millions of uninsured persons in the states.  Sad, isn't it?
673117
Well The government now days are pretty greedy. They need more money to finance the supply for the wars that Bush is pushing his hardest. For example He say's " The gas prices are going up because we need money to supply the troops." I can understand that part but raising gas is not necessary. For other Bills like electric,Cellphone bills and water bills. They are pretty outragous too, Those things could be a lot cheaper but the greedy people who run it want the money. Also doesn't it state in one of the laws that the cost of surviving is free , like Food and water? Then why do they charge money for them? So really your doing really well, your in College and still have time to work two jobs. I admire you, keep up the good work!