[lit-ideas] Re: The flu
- From: Robert.Paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Robert Paul)
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: 21 Nov 2004 18:38:52 PST
>Yes. I've thought lately the reason why the AARP is so much better organized
than older people here is that here people over 60 pay nothing for medicines,
too -- were some of them taken in by some promises Bush seemed to be making
about cheaper drugs for them?<
Few were. The AARP lost membership when it supported the last Bush Medicare
changes--those that included the phony drug discount cards. (The AARP wanted to
offer its own federally funded prescription drug plan.) Their public reasons
were that the Bush scheme was better than nothing (it's worse) and that they
would push for something better. They lost a lot of credibility over this.
The percentage of those eligible for the Bush discount cards who've actually
signed up for one is minuscule, as far as I know.
The monthly Medicare fee was just increased by $17--$204 a year. This means that
in most cases one would pay more even if one had one of the Bush cards. The
discount plans are offered by private insurers and are bewilderingly different,
and what's covered--which drugs--can change without notice.
Why doesn't the US have a national health plan? Because it clings to the notion
that health care fits the simplistic supply and demand model of traditional
capitalism.
Robert Paul
Reed College
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