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Who runs Washington? Hint: It’s not Democrats or Republicans

By Cary Byrd · 1 Comment

I’ve guess I’ve finally come back to my senses.

After years of being cynical about our political system’s capability of doing anything but accumulating debt, I somehow thought Obama could make a difference. I thought, among other things, that meaningful healthcare reform was finally on its way.

But the system itself is more powerful [...]

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It’s Older Americans Month: Time for a benefits checkup?

By Cary Byrd · Leave a Comment

You probably didn’t know it, but May is officially Older Americans Month. Since many members of the eDrugSearch.com community are seniors, and we are keenly aware of their struggles in managing their prescription drug costs, we thought we would take this opportunity to share some facts about the older population that might surprise you, [...]

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It’s time to end corporate welfare for prescription drug companies

By Cary Byrd · 1 Comment

I found this wonderful letter by Carrol L. Fry in the Kansas City Star and wanted to share it with all of you. It’s in response to a syndicated column by a typically out-of-touch Washington pundit.

I read George Will’s hand-wringing column about the imminent demise of Medicare (2/7, Opinion, “Obama [...]

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Study: Medicare coverage gap is forcing seniors to skip their meds

By Cary Byrd · 3 Comments

We’ve written here frequently about the “doughnut hole” in Medicare Part D. This is a coverage gap that, in 2009, requires seniors to begin paying full price for their prescription drugs if they exceed $2,700 in total drug costs.

Contrary to what many seniors believe, the $2,700 isn’t based on out-of-pocket expenditures, but [...]

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How to pick the best Medicare prescription drug plan for you

By Cary Byrd · 3 Comments

With the annual election period for the Medicare prescription drug program beginning Nov. 15, elder-care expert Esther Koch says many seniors are currently in the wrong plan and are wasting money as a result. To get in the right plan for 2009, seniors are advised to use the Drug Plan Finder [...]

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The doughnut hole is getting bigger; would either Obama or McCain plug it?

By Cary Byrd · Leave a Comment

BusinessWeek published a story this week on “Medicare’s Costly Doughnut Hole,” which mostly rehashes a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation (reported here previously) that shows many seniors forgo needed medications rather than pay full price for their meds.

The story also reports that the doughnut hole is getting [...]

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Get out your party hats; it’s Doughnut Hole Day

By Cary Byrd · 4 Comments

From the Sarasota Herald-Tribune:

In health care circles, Monday is Doughnut Hole Day, the deceptively storybook name for a nasty plot turn in the drama of getting prescriptions filled when you’re over 65 and living close to the bone. The hole is the gap in coverage built into Medicare’s Part [...]

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Medicare Part D has been a great program — for pharmaceutical companies

By Cary Byrd · Leave a Comment

Jacob Goldstein at the Wall Street Journal Health Blog reported Friday:

It was dueling reports yesterday on Capitol Hill, as Democrats argued that Medicare is paying way too much for prescription drugs and Republicans countered that the spending is on target.

Henry Waxman, chairman of the House oversight committee and a longtime critic [...]

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Medicare Part D nightmares, continued

By Cary Byrd · 2 Comments

We all know — or should know — by now that the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Medicare Part D) was crafted with the needs and convenience of Big Pharma, rather than patients, in mind. That’s why it’s so unwieldy for the consumer.

The worst part about Medicare Part D is the so-called “doughnut [...]

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