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Opinions on Senior Issues
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Not in the Best
Interest of the Seniors
'after learning the facts, I've lost both my
trust and my faith in AARP'
Jewel Littenberg -
Senior Advocate
June 3, 2006 - I found it hard to believe that some of the
problems that were generated by the Medicare Prescription Drug plan were
not realized at the time our legislators were preparing it. To have
created a benefit plan that even PhD's have a hard time figuring out,
somehow just didn't make sense. But, then, when considering the
following facts that have reared their ugly side, perhaps it is all
beginning to add up. According to new data recently issued by the Bush
administration, two companies, United HealthCare and Humana, have
captured nearly half of the vast new market for prescription drug
insurance under Medicare.
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on
Opinions on Senior Issues |
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Even though more than 80 companies are offering
more than 1,400 prescription drug plans around the country, United
HealthCare has the exclusive right to use the AARP name on one of its
prescription drug plans. Therefore its marketing strategy relies heavily
on that brand.
Recently I received a brochure introducing the AARP
MedicareRx Plan. It states "developed by United HealthCare Insurance
Company, the AARP Medicare Rx Plan is the only plan endorsed by AARP, an
organization you can trust".
Many seniors have placed their trust and faith in
AARP. And when in doubt about making the wrong choice, AARP's brand
recognition gives them the confidence they seek.
Sorry, but after learning the facts, I've lost both
my trust and my faith in AARP.
When AARP endorsed the very confusing Medicare
Prescription Drug plan, were their concerns for the seniors or their own
financial gain?
Managed-care plans, known as Medicare Advantage
plans that provide comprehensive health coverage, including drug
benefits are more profitable. Therefore it is hoped people who sign up
for drug plans will move into managed care.
United HealthCare who has the most beneficiaries,
has the exclusive right to use the AARP name on one of its prescription
drug plans, upon which its marketing strategy relies heavily. It also
stimulates healthy profits for both.
At the time the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan was
being discussed, two of the nation’s most powerful economic interests,
the drug and insurance industries, were invited up to Capitol Hill to
join with leaders of Congress to develop a prescription drug benefit—one
that would serve their interests, not the seniors.
. First and foremost were the friends to pay back.
Of little concern were those most in need of the program: Taxpayers,
senior citizens, people with disabilities.
In a back room, a drug “benefit” was designed that
would allow the pharmaceutical companies to further inflate the price of
medications and reap billions of dollars in windfall profits. They
promised tens of billions more in profits to health insurers to deliver
this coverage.
Sadly there is a human cost—this $700 billion
package is leaving millions of older and disabled Americans worse off
and millions more of them still without drug coverage.
There are 16 million Americans with Medicare—men
and women age 65 and older and people with severe, long-term
disabilities—who have no drug coverage. Only 7 million Americans who
were uninsured before the drug program was initiated have become newly
insured. And, as a result of the inequities that exist with this
program, six million of the poorest and frailest Americans who lost
Medicaid coverage on January 1 now have inferior, less-reliable drug
coverage. People who have enrolled in drug plans are increasingly
angered and dissatisfied as they discover each day how inadequate and
unreliable the benefit is.
There are coverage gaps, excessive out-of-pocket
costs and routine denials of coverage for needed drugs. Even enrollment
in a private drug plan often leaves older Americans going without the
medicines they need.
Last year, the Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers of America reported spending $15.5 million on lobbying
last year; the American Medical Association, spent $18.5 million last
year, America's Health Insurance Plans, spent $5.6 million.
AARP, the lobby for older Americans, spent $8
million.
Once again, the seniors have been sold out. We can
either sit back and accept it or let our voices be heard by contacting
AARP and our elected officials.
About Jewel
Littenberg
Prior to becoming an advocate for
seniors, Jewel's career was that of a fashion designer. Born in
Rochester, New York she obtained a Fine Arts Degree from the Rochester
Institute of Technology, and a degree in Fashion Design from the
Traphagen School of Fashion in New York City. It was there that she
established herself as an award winning fashion designer before moving
to the West Palm Beach area in 1973, with her husband and young son.
Shortly after she created a wholesale sportswear clothing business,
Jewel of Palm Beach, which she operated for 23 years while selling
to stores worldwide. It was during this time she was selected for
inclusion in the Fifteenth Edition of Who's Who of American Women.
In 1992, she was introduced to the world
of caregiving, when her mother suffered her first stroke, and died two
years later. However, it was the result of her father's needs that began
to surface a few years later that made her realize how many thousands of
elderly were facing the same challenges, and had nobody to advocate for
them. It was at this time, she decided to retire from her business and
spend the remainder of her father's life taking care of his needs, as
well as advocating for the needs of others. As a result, she wrote a
resolution asking for "government funded in-home care for the elderly"
which provides the option of remaining in one's home, as opposed to
being forced to be institutionalized in a nursing home. The resolution
became a bill when it was introduced to the House of Representatives by
Congressman Alcee Hastings in July, 2002.
Jewel, a well known advocate for the
elderly, has written numerous articles on caregiving and is a
sought-after speaker by many groups and organizations. In addition, she
created and hosted an advocacy talk radio and television show Issues
and Answers with Jewel.
She is a contributor to SeniorJournal.com.
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