I am retired on SS disability at 58, and have Medicare. I have to take many expensive medicines that are not available as generics, so I do not get the private insurance prescription copay currently because I have reached the Medicare Part D maximum of $2150. My house is almost paid for, and if it were not for this part of my expenses, my income would be sufficient. I think that we need to let our Congress members know that one of the main things to fix is have some kind of regulation on the drug companies. We already have a system in place that Veterans use where all drug prices are lower than the retail amount. This same system or something like it, should be put in place for what all persons have to pay for drugs. People should get involved in the government process, and not wait until it happens to you or a family member, to try to fix it. I reached the maximum of $2150 in August when I started paying the 100% for all brand name prescriptions. I also know about PPA (Partnership for Prescription Assistance -1-888-4PPANOW where anyone can see if their drug companies offer some kind of free or lower costs for the prescriptions they take ), but I cannot get the most expensive medicine I take ($300) free from one drug company , because I earn $100 a month more than they allow, and the other main prescription ($150 a month) drug company does not have the PPA option. The amount set by the congress of $4850 that a person must contribute before co-payments kick back in is ridiculous. I would suggest that all persons who not retired but take any kind of brand name prescription that does not have a generic, look up what they would be paying every month if they did not have insurance, and see how well they have saved for retirement. Also the drug companies can increase them at any time. Mine add up to over $550 a month, so even though I will have paid $2200 of the $4850 required, my prescriptions PART D will not contribute anything until January 1st. I cannot get Federal or State help because I make too much. The low income levels set to be able to get help in this country, for Federal, State and private are very low (and have not been changed significantly in, I think about 10 years), and need to be changed. Again people look up what these are, and I hope that you are shocked. The latest is that in January the Social Security COLA is 2.3%.
How much has your cost of living gone up this year?
My advice to all is to stay informed, and active in letting the Congress and the rest of Washington know your opinions, I know I have and plan to in the future .. I know what comments I'm going to get from the Republican crowd about my note but they are going to be in the same boat when they retire. The Congress, the President has totally lost touch with the life in these United States, and they need to be told so.