Text 35385, 99 rader
Skriven 2009-08-28 21:07:00 av WAYNE CHIRNSIDE (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av ROBERT BASHE
Ärende: Universal health insuranc
=================================
-=> ROBERT BASHE wrote to WAYNE CHIRNSIDE <=-

 RB> Wayne Chirnside wrote to Robert Bashe on Friday August 28 2009 at
 RB> 11:30:

 WC> Well, people such as myself, disabled and ultra-poor have to pay the
 WC> first 250 of their medicare part D plan.

 WC> First problem is under medicare part D one of my drugs is not covered
 WC> and the other's $96  year.

 RB> So in other words, you have no benefit at all, since the deductible is
 RB> $250 a year. Why is there a limitation as to the type of drug? Or is
 RB> that a stupid question?

There are no stupid questions.

The limitation on the other drug is because it's a member of the
benzodiazapam<sp>
family of drugs.
A lot of people use these drugs to  to feel good or get high.
I do not which is why I've never developed a tolerance or addiction
to the drug in over ten years.

I take it in .5 Mg doses 5X's a day.

Had I developed a liking for alprozolam it would not have continued 
to work for me in conjunction with trazadone.

Without *both* of these drugs I sleep only 90 minutes a day from
extreme pain due to a motorcycle _accident_ that wasn't really an accident 
but deliberate. 

 WC> To get coverage for the second and more expensive drug, $210 a year
 WC> I'd have to join a prvate plan. A private insurance carrier authorizd
 WC> under part D.

 RB> Oh, brother! Then you might as well take the private insurance and
 RB> forget Mecicare.

I guess so but it's a matter of principle for me on this issue.

I didn't even go to the hospital in June of 06 when I had a stroke.
I toughed it out for 14 months, fully recovered and presume hospitalization
would not have been any help and in fact likely a hindrence to my recovery.

I did constantly adhere to a self imposed recovery regimen of 
learning Linux Slackware *nix for mental stimulation and Knoppix 4.0 
Linux for the physical recovery of my right hand after it clawed up
on me. 
Knoppix Linux has some pretty intensively challenging arcade games
like hyper-Galliga that restored full use of my right hand after
I first spent a few very painful weeks prying my hand from it's curl to
straight again.
 
 WC> This is generally encouraged however what is generally not known is
 WC> joining such a private plan loses you a *lot* of options regards to
 WC> hospitalization and doctor care.

 RB> There's a connection? I must admit I don't understand why.

That makes two of us.

 WC> Doughnut hole being a euphamism for medicare part D only covering your
 WC> medications for the first half of the year as you have a cap on
 WC> maximum drug costs per year. After that you're on your own again.

 RB> Jeez... so what's the point? The chronicly ill need medicines in a full
 RB> year, not just in half, and not capped. I really don't understand this
 RB> system.

Yeah, friend of a friend is facing this dilemma, required heart medication
is not allowed on medicare part D.

Politics and greed not sound medical practice are dictating these programs, 
winding up costing far more than is neccessary.

 RB> I might note that my wife is diabetic, i.e. chronically ill, and gets
 RB> her insulin part from private insurance and part from the insurance her
 RB> former employer (the state government) still provides, although she is
 RB> now pensioned. All in all, 100% is reimbursed.

 WC> Now for the wealthy the deal is a good bit better.

 RB> Well... wealthy. At least better off, who can pay private insurance.
 RB> Not much different here.

But they don't have to for drugs after the first 2 grand.
Medicare part D takes very good care of those that least need it.

 RB> Seems like you have a pretty difficult situation.

I don't really much care anymore.

At some point nothing can really hurt you anymore.

... Now using  Linux Slackware 12.2
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
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