Kanjorski Survey Shows Senior Citizens Want Medicare Drug Program Changed

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced the results of a survey he sent to seniors in the 11^th Congressional District this summer seeking their opinion of the recently enacted Medicare prescription drug program. More than 2,300 seniors took the time to complete the four-question survey.

An overwhelming number of respondents - 96 percent - believe that the federal government should have the right to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to obtain the lowest possible prices for prescription drugs for seniors. Legislation creating the new program expressly prohibits such negotiation, and is one of the reasons Congressman Kanjorski opposed the bill.

"The Medicare Bill fails to alleviate the burdens of prescription drug costs for our senior citizens, many of whom live on fixed incomes. Our senior citizens overwhelmingly want the government to negotiate for more affordable prescription drugs. We need to provide a plan that is affordable, easy to understand, and provides savings to our seniors. A high percentage of our seniors also want to allow our government to import drugs. Seniors in Northeastern Pennsylvania and across the country should not have to choose between prescriptions and groceries. The results of this survey reinforce the need to revisit this Medicare Bill," Congressman Kanjorski said. 

Seniors are spending thousands of dollars on prescription drugs each year. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, their total spending has increased by more than 50 percent over the past three years.

The Department of Veterans Affairs negotiates with drug companies on cost. According to a price comparison released in May by Families USA, seniors on the VA plan pay $40.55 for the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor. Using the Medicare discount drug card, seniors would pay between $64.67 and $74.77. If the United States could negotiate with Canada, seniors would pay only $35.04 for that same drug.

Seniors who take the arthritis medication Celebrex would pay $54.74 under a drug reimportation plan and $125.19 under the VA plan, compared to between $148.79 and $182.80 under the Medicare discount card.

Seniors who take the blood pressure medication Norvasc would pay $28.03 under a drug reimportation plan, $25.38 under the VA plan, and between $41.79 and $49.62 under the Medicare discount card.

The Bush administration announced on Friday that Medicare premiums will rise 17 percent next year, affecting the 38.9 million Americans who participate in the program. This is the largest increase in the program's 40-year history.

Seniors enrolled in Medicare Part B will now pay $78.20, up $11.60 from the $66.60 rate from 2004. Medicare premiums have risen over the past two years - 13.5 percent this year and 8.7 percent the year before that.

In addition, the state's Insurance Department recently approved rate hikes in Blue Cross health care premiums. More than 50,000 Blue Cross participants in 13 counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania will pay higher premiums when the new fiscal year starts on Oct. 1. More than 46,000 senior citizens who are on the Medicare supplemental program Security 65 will now be forced to pay rate increases ranging from about 5 percent to nearly 10 percent.

Results of the Survey Follow:

1. Would you prefer to have prescription drug coverage provided through Medicare, a private insurance company or a state program such as PACE?

1. Medicare                                              54.7%
2. A private insurance company                 8.3%
3. State program                                       37%

2. Should the government be able to negotiate with drug companies to buy in bulk to reduce costs?

1. Yes                                                      96%
2. No                                                        4%

3. Should seniors be able to import drugs from foreign countries, such as Canada?

1. Yes                                                      88.1%
2. No                                                        11.9%

4. How much do you spend on prescription drugs each year?

1. I am currently on PACE                        18.5%
2. Less than $500                          15.2%
3. $500 to $2200                            47%
4. $2200 to $3600                          12.3%
5. More than $3600                       7%

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