Medications too costly for seniors
Not having any documents or knowledge as to what I am about to say, nor do I have any ways or means to substantiate my claims, there are indications that shows there is a possibility the pharmaceutical, the medical insurance companies, and probably our doctors, are really harming our senior citizens, because they aren’t and can’t afford to pay for those costly medications needed to keep them healthy and alive. I believe and truly feel this stems simply on money, money and more money.
The small income they, the senior people make, are not enough to cover their monthly expenses, like rents, foods, and whatevers, much less having to pay for those ungodly, expensive medications they must take, sometimes, even more than four, which would cost them sometimes over $400 at one sitting.
Because of situations like these, I see them pitifully declining and turning away at the pharmacy, sometimes hanging their heads and wondering some ways to try or find means to get and pay for those pills.
Sadly too, because they, the pharmacists, who do not have any control over the cost of those pills, are telling our seniors to check with their insurance companies for some explanations. Why must they, and what sort of explanations would and could the pharmacists say that would change the whole situations? And just how many of our seniors are plagued with paying those kinds of money? Plenty!
One, a lady who has a stage four cancer, must pay $10,000 for her pills. Her co-pay is $3,000. She was an RN, but living on her small retirement and Social Security, she decided to live a life without it. Another, has a pacemaker and needs to have blood thinner pills. But again, she must come up with $500. Where are they going to get the money to pay for those pills when their income is probably less than what the poverty level income people make? Shouldn’t they be helped in many ways?
Am I overreacting, crazy or dumb in voicing what I think is and probably happening now? You could be right, very right, and what’s my point? Help them by dropping the costs of medications so they could live longer and healthier.
It’s been talked about, argued, and voted on to help the old, but really, are they? Our congressional people should stop toying with our health bills, and instead of bickering with each other, they should come together for the people.
Canadians pay nothing, if any, a very small amount of money for medications, and yet, we pay a greater amount for them. Why can’t our government get together with the Canadians, adopt, or at least find out what makes their plan so great and why is it working for them?
What about our candidates running for offices, the would-be mayors, governors, and lieutenant governors? Don’t just sit there and look good. You want our votes, talk about reducing the costs of medications now, not later.
Ray Domingo, Hanamaulu
Ray
Do a little serious research. You’ll find that the Canadian single payer system is a disaster–not the panacea you think it is.
Remember this: nothing is free; someone has to pay. Since the government has no money of its own, the only way more “free” things like medication can be provided is through higher taxes. Higher taxes will only contribute to more economic suffering of seniors on fixed incomes.
RG DeSoto
Vote no or leave it blank on Bernard pm. Carvalho jr’s small box on the voting ballot, next primary 2018. Lt. Governor. This guy is clueless.
Ray,
Perhaps you could ask Sarah Palin about her “death panels”?
The Republican Tax bill that is being voted on in the House today will strip the individual mandate from Obamacare giving the very rich a huge tax break while guaranteeing that Insurance Premiums will rise dramatically thus making the scenes you describe even more wide-spread.
Canada has “single-payer” insurance, which in the USA would be the same as “Medicare for All”. The seniors you describe should already be on Medicare, so why can’t they afford their drugs? Well, because the Republicans put into law that the Medicare system CAN NOT negotiate with drug companies for a cheaper price but much pay retail, where retail is whatever the drug company wants to charge.
Even the Democrats are in on the scam. Senator Joe Manchin’s (VA) daughter is CEO of the company that makes the epipen (to combat allergic reactions). She raised the price by 500% in 2009. This is not the only example of medical companies raising prices.
Do you know that there is now a shortage of certain drugs and medical supplies that are (were?) manufactured in Puerto Rico? Even today, two months later, most of the island is still without power. The contract with Whitefish Energy, the tiny two man company from Montana closely tied to Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, was canceled, but not before the new power line that company installed failed.
Ray, if you want to take care of our seniors you might want to support the push for single-payer healthcare and then concentrate on election of representatives to our national government who are not corrupt.
Agreed. Thank you Ray Domingo.
Ray, sometimes it’s good that people go without the expansive poison that these pill makers sell for a great amount of money. I’ve seen a lot of people who live longer without these expansive poisons (pills, etc)
Your mayor looks stupid. He is stupid. Only he thinks he looks good. Medical cost? Heart attack patient and ready to go at any time.
The only entity not on a fixed income is the Government. Blank checks are written daily.
It really is tiring to hear Seniors throwing out the “fixed income” every time their cable bill increases, the rent goes up, taxes increase, their electric bill increases, the water bill increases. …….Here is a tip, everyone is on a “fixed income”. You had a lifetime……..one more time…..a lifetime, to save and prepare for your Golden Years. Instead of having 4 kids, sending them to private schools, driving new cars, eating out all the time, taking expensive vacations, maybe, just maybe, you should have saved $10 a week for 40 years, to supplement your Social Security checks? Stop the madness!!