Seniors brace for pricier drug coverage in '09

329%.......... National Health.....Not Corporate Greed. Insurance I think not, ROBBERY YES.

Humana has nearly doubled our plan.  The premium has gone from$26.00 to over $44.00 and the co-payment for brand names has gone from $25.00 to $40.00.  We live in Mississippi.  Does anyone know of a cheaper plan?  My husband gets his meds from the VA, which bargains for prices and my military children get Tri-Care.  Why can't Medicare bargain for prices also.

Question....were we not told that if we didn't enroll at the time Part D was introduced in 2006 that costs would be higher for enrollment in the future.  That does not appear to be the case.  Guess just another govt. sales story.

Anyone have an answer?

With Obama's plan you will be able to order cheap drugs from Canada again. Instead of paying $500.00/1 pk for Acutane I go home to Canada $140.00 pk of Acutane- with plane faire I still save $40 bucks.

Jackie -- Thanks, forgot about that!

My experience with Humana was lack of communication. I learned of their price increase though the Medicare website. I am looking at using an AARP insurance plan. This scheme of the government using private insurance companies to save money is really financing these insurance companies. Just look at all the advertising they do on tv. Health care in this country is in serious need of reform.

I'll be shopping around, too.  Humana has not only raised the monthly premium AND the co-pay, they have also moved my meds to tier 3 raising the co-pay from $25 to $70!  I would be glad to take generics but, thanks to agreements between the drug co. and the government, generics are not available.  

When I hit the donut-hole in May I found that generic forms of my meds ARE available in Canada for a fraction of the price.  They are even cheaper than the new 2009 $40 co-pay in some cases!

One of the meds I take, Advair, is $280 a month.  The exact same medication, made by the same company (NOT a generic) is sold in India for the equivilent of $26.84!  Why is that??

We are all being ripped off twice by the drug and insurance companies.  First right out of our pockets, and then thru the taxes we pay that are subsidizing their outrageous prices!

Two points:

1.  It is time for Medicare to emulate the VA and negotiate with the manufacturers for the lowest possible price.  The new, democratic Congress and President have the power to do this.  It should be fast tracked.

2.  People on any AARP plan should switch to something else.  The AARP doesn't evaluate plans for cost or quality; it just looks at the kickback it gets from the favored drug company or Medicare provider.  AARP has gone from a lobbying group to an insurance agency.

People will never understand what is happining with this price increase when all that they see are huge companies and executives with extravigant life styles being bailed out. Guess what? these are the same people being asked to foot the bill for this bail out bussiness and now someone is telling them that the cost of their meds is going up---were  headed in a bad direction folks. You can shop all you want you will just be setting yourself up for another let down. Its justa matter of time until all of these thiefs jump on the wagon.

It is very clear to me that drug plan cost are going up because the Insurance companys were advised in advance that people on social security are getting a 5.8% increase in thier benefits in 2009. The jump in drug plan cost are just another way for insurance companys to rob Senior citizens. Humana is one of the worst. My cost are going up 50% and I have never used the plan. I'm in the process of shopping around for another plan. We can only hope that after Jan 20 all this highway robbery will stop.

The government never should have forced Medicare patients into this type of insurance plan.  I am in my 40's, disabled and my meds are on the Tier 4 & 5...so are not covered by any of the Insurance plans.  So where is my savings???  I am actually paying more for a whole lot less.

The government with these plans just gave the insurance companies a license to steal...and the people paying have no resources.  Where is our billion dollar bail out?????

I am 50 years old and on disability because of multiple sclerosis. I have not been getting treatments because they are expensive. Up to 10.000.00 a year. I am now facing the fact that I cannot go without the meds much longer. Disability sucks, I can't keep my head above water now. We are getting a 5% raise, and less money if we go with Medicare Part D. Still AIG begs for money. And gets it.

Hi the wolf from canada again. this hitting the group that is ill prepared to handle it .it just that large insurance companies in your country that handle prescription drugs want to collect hefy premiums but not pay. just to increase profits. I remember that Hiliary clinton ,wife of then sitting president Bill clinton wanting universal health care for people was slapped down ,as they the insurance companies are very powerful lobbyists.(said was socialized medicine like Canada and the american media went along) we seniors here in saskatchwan are now give 15.00 prescriptions on drugs covered by drug plan but stll expensive drugs are covered and have to buy private health coverage.

gary graham
saskatoon sask canada

p.s have one of the best health care programs in world.

       I HAVE HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY,HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,HAVE BEEN ON HEAVY MEDICATION FOR YEARS.I went to pick up my medicine at pharmacy was told that prescription plan from PEBTF and MEDCO would no longer give me blood pressure medicine and stopped it.Quiting medicine fast like that will shock the body and kill you. I think the reason medicare and insurance plans make getting your medicine expensive and difficult to get is they know stopping medicine after many years will kill you and get you off the palns. WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE. 

I saw an elderly man at Wal-Mart in tears because he could not afford the drug prescribed to him that was a life saving medicine for him. This is sick and wrong. Shame on this country.

Sounds like Humana = Lowballer. I'd guess it was all in their plan; start low, get a lot of takers and then jack it up.

where are we going? and why am I in this handbasket?

Screwed again.  And, republicans are supposedly running the government.  what will happen next?

No matter how bad things seem now, just wait and see how horrible our lives will be under Obamanomics.

Tomorrow I must begin searching for the best Medicare Plan D for my husband and myself.  We have until Dec. 31 to finalize the plan, but do you remember how many times one had to call...be put on hold....or an automated voice told you to call back later?  How frustrating!  It's too bad that the insurance companies & drug companies made all of the rules & regulations for the drug plan.  Another good idea by the government IF it were implemented correctly.

Humana started the lst year with a program FEW of us could refuse.  I was "sucked in", too.  Their plan worked!  It is too easy for seniors to just continue with the plan rather than have to search by phone or the 'net.  Too many are too ill, or too old to do the necesssary detail work in order to find a better plan.  Consequently, Humana has won!  Just what they planned....increase premiums and costs for meds.  Many will accept whatever Humana requests.  Not this senior.  I will start my search tomorrow....making sure the companies have a mail order plan...and then take as much time as necessary...either by phone or on the 'net to complete my pursuit.  We live in an assisted living complex, so my time is not so lilmited in order to take care of the details.  There are some new insurance companies, and I want to follow up on their plans as well.  They may be hungry for new applicants as Humana once was.  Look in your Medicare book for your state and check for your own self!

The drug and insurance companies found out that us seniors were to get a cost of living raise, and are making sure that they get it all instead.

o p e c  suxx Too!

While you may think that these costs are high and corporate America is terrible, do you know how much it costs to research these drugs? Just like any company makes profit, so do the drug companies. Health care was not a right given to us by our forefathers, just be thankful we actually do have a system, slow as it may be, good enough to keep millions of people alive. Without the healthcare you would be paying even more. The reason why Canadian drugs are cheaper is because they pay a higher tax. Nothing is free.

This ponsi scheme is supposed to give the illusion of a competitive free market in medicine which doesn't really exist.  The pharmceutical cartel sets prices.  Then we play games with various insurance middlemen trying to avoid getting ripped off.  This is simply a diversion to make us think that if we are just smart shoppers we will be ok.  We are being snookered.

The real question: Why do the big drug companies get away with such a massive ripoff?  The actual cost to manufacture most drugs is less than 5% of what they charge.  Why can't medicare purchase drugs with competitive bidding just like the government buys most everything else and then pass it on to seniors at cost. Answer: most politicians are in the drug companies pocket.