The Medicare bill: Help or harm?

In "Poison pill," Jacob S. Hacker and Theodore R. Marmor condemn the new Medicare bill. Is prescription drug coverage worth the price?
Read the story: Poison pill
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The president wanted this new system put into place for Medicare but I feel that its going to hurt him for relection, if it doesn't work I know I'm a sr. citizen and if its not right he will not get my vote as of now I would vote for him but I will have to give it plenty of thought and see and I'm sure that it will be a no vote

Wm.F., Revere, Mass.

Sadly, Mr. Hacker's column is right "on the money" Bush was born on third base-and he still thinks that he hit a triple. Never have I seen a government run with such secrecy and deception. I am fearful of the popular reaction when these legislative " time bombs" explode.

Bob, Boston

I don't understand why seniors complain about the cost of prescriptions so often, their other choice is death. Would they prefer that we go back 60 years when you were lucky to live past 65? The true problem with Medicare and Social Security is that they haven't raised the ages for benefits near enough. Your average person used to only live to collect for a few years 60 years ago. The gap between the age your eligible for social security and life expectancy has increased substantially, creating a burden too big to continue. The main problem has been politicians lack of interest in reminding people that social security was supposed to be a helping hand and not a sole source of income over the last 60 years.

Lazlo, Watertown

i think this bill is the beginning of the end of medicare next? social security the republicans have wanted to do away with these benefits for years [read david stockman's book ] he was president reagan's budget director who quit knowing that he was ruining these benefits for the middle class.

richard, venice florida

I SAY FREE HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYBODY. WHY NOT JUST CHARGED EVERYBODY 5.00 A WEEK FROM THEIR PAYCHECK, DISB CK, WORKAMNS, COMP CK, S,S, CK , WELFARE CK , STCOK DIVEND CK, LOTTERY CK ETC.. NO MATTER WHAT CHECK YOU GET THEIR SHOULD BE A SMALL FEE TAKEN OUT , AND IF EVERYBODY PAY THEIE FAIR SHARE THEIR WOULD NOT BE ANY PROBLEMS. THIS SHOULD NOT JUST MIDDLE CLASS ALWAYS PAYING FOR EVERYBODY ELSE . GIMME A BREAK !!!

MARIE, LYNN

THIS BILL WILL DO NOTHING TO PRESERVE THE DIGNATY OF MIDDLE INCOME SENIORS. THIS GROUP OWNS THEIR OWN HOME, GIVES MORE TO THE COMMUNITY IN TAXES THAN IT RECEIVES IN SERVICES, LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME, HAVE HIGHER COSTS IN HEAT AND UTILITIES(RUN OXYGEN EQUIPT, KEEP HEAT AND AIRCONDITIONING AT A COMFORTABLE LEVEL), SPECIAL DIET FOR DIABETICS, AND INCREASED COSTS FOR MEDICATIONS. THIS GROUP IS TOO WEALTHY FOR MEDICADE AND NOT WEALTHY ENOUGH TO AFFORD MEDICARE SUPPLIMENTS THAT WOULD COVER PERSCRIPTION DRUGS. THIS GROUP, OF WHICH MY WIFE (ILL) AND MYSELF ARE PART OF, HAVE NEVER BEEN WELFARE, BUT DO DESERVE SOME SORT OF DIGNATY, AS THESE COSTS CONTINUE TO ESCALATE. THE INSURENCE COMPANIES AND PHARMICUTICAL FIRMS WILL REAP THE BILLIONS AND INDIVIDUALS LIKE OURSELVES"NOT EVEN THE CRUMBS". THE MILLIONS DONATED BY THE INSURANCE AND PHARMACUTICAL COMPANIES TO THE CAMPAIN COFFERS OF THOSE SELECT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, IS NOTHING MORE THAN LEGAL BRIBERY.

John, READING

Your question is phrased in a way which assumes that one agrees with the program, its just that the costs are too high. Where do you think the money for this prescription drug program, Medicare and Social Security comes from, trees. These programs are all socialist, vote buying, Ponzi schemes. The day will come when we as a society will have to pay the price for these irresponsible programs. The programs grow and grow as if the there were no end to the money to pay for them. I am 51. I am curious as to how the younger generation feels about this. The seniors in this country have grown up with such rediculous expectations about Medicare and Social Security. Why should a 30 year old engineer pay higher taxes so some 70 year old retiree can get his prescription drugs for less money, even if he can afford to pay for them himself? These programs are highly immoral, costly and divisive. They do nothing about controlling the cost of service, in fact they probably help prices go up. Privitizing them would be a GOOD thing. Then we can make our own choices.

Richard, Foxboro

Excellent article which confirms my view and makes suspect aarp's support for the bill.

gordon, stow,MA

Yikes, there's an insolvency section in the Medicare bill? Actually, that doesn't surprise me. There was an article on the front page of the New York Times a couple of months ago with a good Medicare horror story. Seniors in Florida have a specialist for every body part. They build their day around their doctor's appointment, and it's a social activity, including lunch at a restaurant. What an outrage! Anyone with enough assets to eat at a restaurant doesn't deserve government benefits. That should be reserved for the poor. A few years ago there was a story on the front page of the Wall Street Journal about an entrepreneur who developed a computer product to help hospitals submit claims to Medicare. He got rich off that product and has a stable of antique cars. It's scandalous that he got rich off of Medicare. That's not right. Given the size of the national debt, I guess Americans have a gut feeling that programs like Medicare are unfair. The Republicans did the right thing by cutting taxes. If only they would follow through by cutting spending. I guess that will happen though, as debt service crowds out unncessary spending.

Peter, Cambridge

This so-called "reform" to be made into law today, is indeed a poison pill. Do you know that it evens bars supplimental private coverage for drug costs not covered? (see: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/07/politics/07MEDI.html ). The only solution to America's health care mess is a single-payer system like Canada's. It works and it CHEAPER than our insurance company and phama giveaway scam. And why? Because it puts the health care of its citizens FIRST above the profits of rich corporations. When will we learn?

Randy, Oakland, Rhode Island