Medicare Part D now cost the taxpayers over 50 billion dollars a year. Costs will soon rise to over 60 billion. This program could be changed to save taxpayers over 40 billion a year and allow seniors to get prescription drugs cheaper than what they are paying under Part D.
Prescription Drugs from Canada can be purchased at 1/3 to 1/5 the US cost. I have checked the cost of buying drugs through Canada in lieu of using Part D for my wife, my brother, and myself. We would each save $300 to $800 per year by canceling Part D and just buy through Canada.
There are several reasons why Part D plans costs are so high. Although Medicare pays for the drugs, private insurance companies manage the plans. The insurance companies collect a premium from seniors and take no risk since Medicare pays for the drugs. Medicare does not negotiate any prices for the drugs so prices are retail price, which are more than what most people pay at their local pharmacy. Unless the insurance company negotiates a lower price, the plan is paying top dollar for the drugs. In addition seniors pay a premium to the insurance company plus a deductible and a co-pay for each prescription. Once drug costs reach about $2700 in a year, seniors pay the full cost until their out pocket reaches about $3500.
By changing Part D to eliminate all but catastrophic coverage, which has about a $6,000 deducible and allowing seniors to purchase drugs through Canada everybody wins. Well not quite. The losers are? You guessed it, insurance companies and drug companies.
There is no bill in Congress to make these changes because the drug and insurance lobby will not allow it. They have the votes to block any attempt to cut off this gravy train.
Currently lobbyist for the drug companies are working Congress and the administration to stop all Americans from buying drugs through Canada and other countries which will add billions more to their revenues.
Prescription Drugs from Canada can be purchased at 1/3 to 1/5 the US cost. I have checked the cost of buying drugs through Canada in lieu of using Part D for my wife, my brother, and myself. We would each save $300 to $800 per year by canceling Part D and just buy through Canada.
There are several reasons why Part D plans costs are so high. Although Medicare pays for the drugs, private insurance companies manage the plans. The insurance companies collect a premium from seniors and take no risk since Medicare pays for the drugs. Medicare does not negotiate any prices for the drugs so prices are retail price, which are more than what most people pay at their local pharmacy. Unless the insurance company negotiates a lower price, the plan is paying top dollar for the drugs. In addition seniors pay a premium to the insurance company plus a deductible and a co-pay for each prescription. Once drug costs reach about $2700 in a year, seniors pay the full cost until their out pocket reaches about $3500.
By changing Part D to eliminate all but catastrophic coverage, which has about a $6,000 deducible and allowing seniors to purchase drugs through Canada everybody wins. Well not quite. The losers are? You guessed it, insurance companies and drug companies.
There is no bill in Congress to make these changes because the drug and insurance lobby will not allow it. They have the votes to block any attempt to cut off this gravy train.
Currently lobbyist for the drug companies are working Congress and the administration to stop all Americans from buying drugs through Canada and other countries which will add billions more to their revenues.
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