Incoming Casualties...

[mdehners]

I Volunteer as a Client Advocate at our local health dept. Right now everyone is as nervous as all of us were here last yr when we heard a cat 5 hurricane was heading our way. This one’s named Medicare-D. In our area, as much of the Gulf Coast, there are no public hospitals. Each state HAD programs to help with medical expenses for the Elderly, Women with Children, Vets, HIV/AIDS/etc. With M-D, those programs have been or are being shut down. The Problem? The best programs available at least here in Florida mean the average co-pay per med is $20.00 and the average patient has 4(I, BTW have 9…). When you have someone who gets $225 SSI for EVERYTHING…guess what gets cut. Even with those Poor who are better off, not a lot have $80+ extra a month free. Most are already barely Surviving.
There are two “Waves” incoming. The 1st is simply those that stop taking thier meds or only those for “comfort measures”. When they get sick, they will be hospitalized and many will die….after eating up resources. The 2nd is the “donut hole” where after a certain amt of meds are covered, you have to pay 100% till you spend a couple grand.. Then it goes back to the original plan. Those that Survived the 1st Wave may not and if they do will certainly eat up even more resources that rural counties don’t have.
It’s going to be an “Interesting” yr…..
Frith,
Pat