| For 39 years, seniors and the disabled have
counted on Medicare for affordable, reliable healthcare.
But today, a radical new law threatens our seniors
and our state. The new law is a gift to HMOs, drug companies and
insurers, but it’s a bad deal for Washington’s seniors.
Senator Patty Murray is leading the fight to fix
this bad law. She’s visiting senior centers throughout our
state – informing and empowering seniors. Together, we’re
building a grassroots coalition to force Congress and the White
House to finally put seniors first.
And we need your help! If you agree with Patty
that SENIORS DESERVE BETTER,
then join our coalition and make your voice heard.
On this webpage, we’ve brought together
all the tools and information you need to make a difference.
As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that
a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Let’s get started!
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Learn How the Law Affects You
Radical Changes to Medicare
- Goodbye equity. Now it's
different benefits and costs for different seniors.
- Goodbye stability. Now it's
changing prices, restrictions & possibly plans every year.
- HMO's Win: If you like HMO's
you'll love this law.
- Addition of means-testing:
It impacts more seniors than you think!
How It Works
The prescription drug benefit begins in
2006.
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Your payments and benefits are
determined by how much your drugs cost each year.
If your annual total drug costs
are under $2,250,
- you’ll pay a premium, deductible
and copay
- but those amounts can rise every year.
Even the $35 is not set in law.
If you’re total annual drug
costs are between
$2,250 - $5,100,
- you get NO
COVERAGE from the plan while you’re
in that gap,
- and you still
have to pay the premiums.
And finally, if your total annual
drug costs are over $5,100,
- you pay 5 percent,
- and the plan pays 95 percent
- subject to means
testing.
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In May, 2004, a prescription
drug discount card was introduced for an annual enrollment
fee of no more than $30.The cards can be used until the
benefit begins in 2006 at which point they will be phased
out.
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There are many unknowns. We just don't
have the answers.
Can I Afford It?
-
We don’t know if private companies
will offer affordable plans.
-
We don’t know what the premium will
be,
-
and we don’t know what the deductible
will be.
Proponents claim that it will be $35 for the premium
and $250 for the deductible, but that’s not set in stone.
It’s just a suggestion.
The plans get to decide what they want to charge.
There is no limit, and it can go up every year.
We Don't Know if
Seniors Will Lose Their Current Retiree Health Benefits
The law provides some money to employers, but
the Congressional Budget Office estimates that nationwide 6.4
million seniors and disabled will lose their retiree coverage.
Here in Washington State, it’s estimated
that 47,250 seniors will lose their current retirement benefits.
So seniors that have security and good coverage today could lose
it tomorrow because of this law.
Will I be Forced into
a Restrictive HMO?
If the Drug-Only plan that is offered in your
area is too expensive, the only way to get drug coverage is to
join an HMO for all of your care.
We know that HMOs limit your access to doctors
and hospitals.
Some seniors – especially seniors in rural
areas – will only have one way to get drug coverage under
this law – and it will be to join an HMO.
Will My Drugs Be Covered?
We don’t know. It’s up to the individual
plan.
You have to sign-up not knowing if the drugs you
need are covered, and plans can drop drugs whenever they want.
In addition, they only have to cover one drug
in each class of drugs. So it’s possible that the drug you
need will not be covered.
Can I Keep My Doctor?
It’s up to the HMO to decide which doctors
and hospitals are part of their network.
You might -- or might not -- be able to keep your
doctor. It’s up to the HMO.
"These five questions are very big
issues for seniors. They really determine whether this is
a good deal or not. We don’t know the answer to any
of these questions, and I wasn’t comfortable voting
for a bill with all these critical questions unanswered.
I can say this – the things
that we DO know about this bill are disturbing. That’s
why I think this drug law is a bad deal for Washington's
seniors."
- Senator Murray
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A Bad Deal for
Washington Seniors
47,250 seniors will lose
their retiree health benefits in Washington state.
91,900 poor seniors will
pay more for drugs. These are people who today are eligible
for both Medicare and Medicaid.
33,360 will pay more for
Medicare Part B
Rural seniors will likely
pay more for less coverage. It will be similar to how Medicare
+ Choice works today in Washington. Seniors in urban areas
get benefits that seniors in rural areas don’t get.
Seniors with chronic, deadly diseases
and disabled Americans are not guaranteed the drugs
they need. That’s because HMO’s only have to
cover 1 drug in each class. And the HMO gets to decide which
drugs are in that class.
Many seniors will be forced
into HMO’s with restrictive networks and limits. If
the drug-only plan is too expensive, and your private retirement
plan drops your coverage – the only way to get drug
coverage will be to join an HMO.
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See How
Senator Murray is Fighting for Seniors  |
