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Some related articles : GOP Works on Elderly Drug Plan Pharmaceuticals to Support Drug Bill Drugs: More Important, More Costly
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GOP's Doughnut PlanBy: Retired Americans www.retiredamericans.org May 3, 2002 "Unworkable" Says Alliance The House Republican leadership announced its latest prescription drug proposal this week. "The plan is nothing more than an unworkable hodgepodge of failed ideas," says Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. "Their goal obviously is to deflect attention from the immediate need for a universal, voluntary Medicare prescription drug program and the need to make prescription medications more affordable but older Americans are not going to let them get away with it. This plan is so ridiculous that it does not even merit consideration by the Congress. "Under the GOP plan, average income seniors would pay a $35 to $40 monthly premium and a $250 annual deductible for some coverage until their drug bills reach $2,000 in a year. They would then lose all coverage while still paying premiums until their bills reached $4,000. This gap in coverage is the so-called "doughnut" hole which forces seniors to pay all prescription drug costs between $2,000 and $4,000 out of their own pockets. According to Coyle, "That's a case of getting nothing for something. Well, the Alliance has got a message for the GOP House leadership. That message is: Fill in the hole! Doughnuts belong in bakeries, not Medicare." In addition, the proposal would provide coverage through the Medicare+Choice program. "This is also an absurd idea since hundreds of thousands of seniors annually have been losing their coverage because providers have been leaving the insurance market," says Coyle. The Democratic-controlled Senate has not reached a consensus on prescription drug legislation but the budget bill adopted by the Senate Budget Committee provides a $500 billion reserve to cover Medicare "reform." However, Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) and Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA) outlined a prescription drug plan this week which they say would cost about $425 billion between 2004 and 2010 when it would "sunset"(end). Under their plan, seniors would pay 50 percent of their prescription drug bills and Medicare would pay the other 50 percent. "The Alliance opposes the 50/50 provision which we consider inadequate," says Coyle. Coyle called on Alliance members to "contact Senators Graham (telephone: 202-224-3041; fax 202-224-2237) and Miller (telephone: 202-224-3643; fax: 202-224-0090) and urge them to reconsider their 50/50 proposal. Tell them seniors need an 80/20 coinsurance plan for their medications." "The Alliance is working with Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) in an effort to come up with a Medicare prescription drug bill that meets the Alliance's principles," reports Alliance President George J. Kourpias. "We are very optimistic that a bill which our members can rally around will be introduced by the end of May. In the meantime, it is important that we keep saying 'NO' to inferior bills." OWL to Release Mother's Day Report at News Conference on May 7 The Older Women's League (OWL) will hold a news conference and Congressional briefing at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7, in EF-100 in the U.S. Capitol to release its 17th annual Mother's Day Report entitled, "Social Security Privatization: A False Promise for Women." The news conference will feature Rep.Robert Matsui (D-CA); Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ); Joan Bernstein, OWL President; Dr. Laurie Young, OWL Executive Director; and other Members of Congress. Dianna Porter, Director of Public Policy, Alliance for Retired Americans, will be a featured panelist at the congressional briefing. For more information about OWL's report, contact OWL's Field Services Department at 800-825-3695 or e-mail acrowley@owl-national.org. The state of Utah was inadvertently omitted from the list of states that make up the Alliance for Retired Americans' Western Region. Ed Mayne , President of the Utah AFL-CIO, reminds us, "We have had a very active Retirees Program here in Utah for over 17 years. We may be small number wise but we do not lack spirit or Solidarity." The Friday Alert deeply regrets the error. Alliance Mourns Monsignor Higgins George J. Kourpias, President, expressed "deep sorrow" on behalf of the 2.5 million members of the Alliance for Retired Americans at the death of Monsignor George G. Higgins on May 1 at the age of 86. "We at the Alliance had the deepest respect and admiration for Monsignor Higgins. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and his church to which he devoted his life, serving it always with diligence and honor. Monsignor Higgins was a man of principle who always thought first of others, and never wavered in his duty. Even during the most trying of times, Monsignor Higgins stood firm and fought valiantly to protect vital social programs from those who would dismantle them. His quest on behalf of the less fortunate members of society was inspiring and gives us greater impetus to continue that fight. He could not have left a more valuable legacy. Workers and retirees alike benefited from his wisdom and commitment to others. Monsignor Higgins was well-known for his sparkling wit as well as his humanity, and no important event in the nation's capital was considered a success unless Monsignor Higgins was present to deliver the invocation. His death will be deeply felt throughout the aging, labor and religious communities." Alliance Urges CMS to End "Stop-Gap" Discount Card The Bush Administration is going forward with its prescription drug discount card program. In a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, commented on the proposed rule which would govern the drug discount card. Coyle said, "We have examined the details in the rule and believe that the initiative will not help Medicare beneficiaries." Among the reasons cited by Coyle were these: it does not address the real cause of why Medicare beneficiaries cannot afford prescription drugs; it relies solely on the private sector; it does not provide assistance to all beneficiaries who need it; it is not comprehensive; the expected savings are minimal; there is a lack of accountability; and it provides no protections for beneficiaries. Coyle called on CMS "to abandon stop-gap measures such as this proposal and take up an authentic initiative that will provide universal, comprehensive and affordable prescription drugs for the Medicare population." EPI Says Future Retirees Face Troubling Times A new study issued Thursday by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) was bad news for typical Americans now facing retirement. According to the study's author - Edward N. Wolff, a New York University economist and wealth expert - despite the recent unprecedented stock market boom and rapid growth of 401(k) retirement plans, "more than 40 percent of households will not be able to replace even half of their pre-retirement income once they stop working." EPI President Jeff Faux says, eie Young, OWL Executive Director"This study sheds a whole new light on the debate over Social Security - and it shows we've been trying to fix the part of the retirement system that's not broken. It's time to stop talking about shifting Social Security money to private accounts and start talking about how we can make sure that working Americans will have adequate pensions that will enable them to live decently in retirement." 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