Fixing the Medicare Part D prescription plan
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Medicare Prescriptions
The new Medicare Part D prescription program has been unbelievably difficult for Seniors to negotiate. There are offered myrian different private plans with confusing details. The biggest drawback in the long run will be the exaggerated cost relative to benefit that has been built in for the benefit of drug makers and health insurers. This cost will bring that point much closer when benefits will exceed payroll tax revenues. On the other hand the fact that the precedent of drug coverage was established by a republican administration will help progressives. Now they only have to fix it. Indeed a single payer prescription coverage system typically has drawbacks. To save costs, expensive advertised drugs are excluded for coverage whenever they are found to have cheaper generic equivalents for the same conditions. This can result in opposition to the formulary when those who have been convinced that only the expensive drug will work for them. Known as a closed formulary, programs that exclude such drugs often must confront patient constituents supports by the drug company that insists on the high return. The current Part D skirts that issue out of deference to drug interests. Therefore an effective reform would be to offer a closed formulary plan equivalent to the Veteren's Administration program. This program would provide the brand name preferred and generic drugs with a limited copay and no limits on annual expenses. Those who are unhappy with the choice in the formulary would still have a private plan available to them. The VA type of plan would be offered to all eligible Seniors and would be simple and straightforward for them to understand. The existing private sector plans could compete with them and offer the idea of choices.