|
Berkeley
Mayor
Jason Varano |
|
Rep. James
Saxton |
Mayor Jason Varano Says Republican Prescription Drug Bill, Passed By
U.S. House Of Representatives, May Be “Bad Medicine” For Many Berkeley
Seniors
Bizarre Republican Prescription Drug Plan Supported By Congressman
Saxton: Seniors Would Have To Lay Out $3700 In Cash To Get $1300 In
Benefits; A Couple Would Apparently Pay $7400 To Get $2600 In Benefits
Berkeley
Township:
Thousands of
Ocean
County residents recently received a newsletter from Congressman Jim
Saxton expressing support for a prescription drug bill passed by the
Republican controlled U. S. House of Representatives.
The new legislation, which would be administered by the Medicare
system, supposedly provides insurance protection for seniors who need
prescription drugs.
Covered Seniors Would Pay Out $3700 To Get Back
$1300
But the legislation, according to arithmetic derived from Saxton’s
newsletter and recent editorial press reports, would require many
covered seniors to pay out $3700 in cash in order to get back $1300.
“This plan would be a disaster: it is not insurance; it’s a shell game
designed to bill Seniors $420 ($35 per month) plus a $250 deductible
and give them next to nothing in return” said one Dover Township
official, who declined to be quoted directly, fearing retaliation from
local Republican leaders.
“Seniors Will Pay And Pay”
Seniors pay and pay as the total bill gets higher and higher”, the
official said.
|
GOP
Senate
Candidate
Forrester |
If a senior’s annual prescription drug cost is $3700, the cash payment
would be $3700 out-of-pocket, and the “insurance program” would only
give back $1300, a net cash payout during the year of $2400.
The effective deductible on this program at a $3700 cost level is
$2400, an unreimbursed component of 65%. Seniors will pay $3700 to get
$1300 in reimbursements. A senior couple could pay $7400 to get back
$2600.
Very Little Improvement
Over The Present Situation
Critics say the bill represents very little, if any, improvement over
the present situation, but the legislation is endorsed by most
Republicans, including U. S. Senate candidate Douglas Forrester.
Berkeley
Mayor Jason J. Varano, a Democrat, is opposed to the bill.
“This
legislation may be very bad medicine for many Berkeley Seniors,”
Varano said. |
