Medicare Stories: In Their Own Words

My husband and myself are both retired and living on social security only. I had to go back to work part-time in order to keep food on our table, let alone any medications that we might need. If we should have to go to the hospital, I don't know who will pay. We don't have any supplemental insurance because we can't afford it. My part-time job doesn't give any kind of insurance coverage. And, I had to get my prescriptions refilled using the "D" part of Social Security this week. I was shocked to see that my coverage wasn't as good as what I had been using through Walgreens that I had to give up when turning 65. It's not fair. We both worked plenty hard and long, so what's happening!!!

J. A. Koch

 

I'm one of the lucky ones, "retiring" after working for 50 years, the first 19 years as a public health nurse, and (now) 31 years as a family/adult nurse practitioner (Yes, that adds up to 50.) I have been receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits for 7 years, and have supplemental health insurance and a drug program through my husband's retirement plan. However, we are both on fixed incomes, neither of which have increased significantly during retirement. Each time I get a (very small) increase in Social Security, it is more than consumed by the increase in Medicare premiums. In retirement, we pay more out-of-pocket medical expenses than at any time during our insurance-covered work years. At 72, I am remarkably healthy, having only one well-controlled chronic disease. My husband, however, has progressive cardiovascular disease, with constant need for meticulous, continuous follow-up and treatment.   Because of inflation, recession, increasing fuel costs, the housing and banking crisis,etc., our cost of living, like all families, has risen significantly. However, our income has not. As a result, I continue to work at two part-time jobs as a Nurse Practitioner. If it were not for Medicare, I would undoubtedly need to be working full time. I have been a proponent of universal health care coverage for all of my professional life. Does not every citizen deserve the same coverage as our U.S. Senate and Congress, our military and veterans? I am one of the lucky ones! Many of my patients over the years have not been so fortunate. The values and morality of a nation are measured and reflected by how it cares for its families, the elderly, the poor, sick and disabled, and young. 

KEEP MEDICARE FAIR!

J. Yvonne Knauff

 

My husband and myself have worked hard to raise our 8 children to be good, God fearing people. They are just that. After 45 years of working, we were able to retire to build our little log home in the state of Washington. The property and home was free and clear. Our monthly needs were met. About 3 years ago I became very ill with lymphoma. Our doctor sent us to the cancer center in Seattle. I was treated with chemotherapy and that reduced the mass from the size of a large grapefruit to the size of a grape! The cancer doctor suggested I take a break from the treatments for a few months. When I returned for a checkup, the mass was back to the size of a grapefruit. They told me they could do more chemotherapy but that would mean I would have no immune system for over a year. I was told that Medicare would not cover any other cancer treatments so I found GNLD. GNLD has wonderful supplements to help me regain good health again but the cost is high. We have had to do a reverse mortgage on our home. Meanwhile, our little bit of savings has dwindled with the outgo of money we have to spend. Medicare keeps taking more money away and we do not want to complain but we do need them to be fair. They are not being fair! We have not money to get other insurances so we have a large dentist bill plus we are paying for hearing aids for my husband. It is a struggle to buy the necessities.

Sally Wilcox

 

Since my husband was a boy, he has been on Medicare and SS Disability. He has cerebral palsy, is deaf/mute, has two types of heart diseases (one being genetic). He has had a hard life because he does piecework and doesn't get but a little paycheck (not enough to do anything with, except a little spending money and believe me it is 'little). Thanks to medicaid and Medicare he gets his medicines, medical care and has the medical insurance I can't give him, because he is "high risk". His life would be so different if he wasn't on Medicare. He is "getting by" thanks to Medicare. Please keep Medicare for the older people who need it and depend on it. It won't be long til I will be eligible for Medicare. As an American citizen, I feel I should be able to look forward to having Medicare as my insurance policy and hopefully, my husband will be able to continue having it. It would be UNFAIR not to have it as it is or increased with the cost of living. Bills go up you know. So we should be able to depend on our government to GUARANTEE Medicare. Thank you sincerely for your time and my husband really depends on Medicare and as a "baby boomer" I hope I can depend on it too!!

Mrs. Leonard S Jacobson

 

My physician says "you are a healthy 56 yr old with MS." How reassuring...BUT...as a result of the MS I had to give up my profession at 52 this plus the death of my husband and needing to collect SSDI as my only source of income, I am at the mercy of Medicare. It is the only 'healthinsurance' I have.

PLEASE keep it fair...there are many of us who depend Medicare!!

Jane Young

 

My husband and I are 88 and 82 and having more health problems than we did when we were younger. WE have been thankful many times for Medicare's support so that we can get the care we need and can afford to pay the balance. He has prostate cancer and I have developed diabetes at 81, as well as needing thyroid med and high blood pressure meds.Thanks to this care we are very active in volunteering and exercising every day. Please keep Medicare FAIR!

Ellen Shoun

 

Both of my parents are on Medicare. Both are from 'the Greatest Generation' meaning they are people who gave a great deal to and for their country and government as they came of age during the Depression and World War II. My father was in the Army Air Corps and in the ETO with the 8th Air Force...he was away for 4 years and didn't get to return until January 1946. My mother worked at ALCOA during the war. My parents have worked hard all of their lives, paid taxes all of their lives and when Medicare came into existence, they both paid into it from their paychecks. They do not get any prescription benefits with Medicare (don't get me started on the farce that is Part D) and they pay over $3500 a year to have supplemental insurance for coverage. Each year I observe how Medicare increases in cost and decreases in benefits. Perhaps if we didn't spend so much money for the 'entitlement' programs and giving so much for free to those who don't pay taxes and aren't here legally, Medicare could become the program it should be. My parents need their Medicare coverage, but it is ridiculous for the cost to keep escalating. Perhaps Washington should seriously consider making those who sit all day, won't work, and collect 'entitlement' monies to get up off of their obviously overweight rear ends and work to offset some of the cost of welfare and Medicaid. We should also consider cutting back on all the freebies we give illegals in this country when we don't take care of our own legal and elderly citizens properly. That is a disgrace and something for which America should feel shame, and those in Congress should feel it most of all. My father has had 2 primary cancers since 2002; he has a pacemaker and he has kidney disease. He has had multiple surgeries and needs certain medical supplies and meds multiple times during the year. If Medicare keeps going up, then supplies he needs will be reduced and the cost of the supplemental insurance will once again increase. In 2009, their supplemental insurance will go up again and I don't know how my parents will pay for it. I am constantly appalled at the way Congress chooses to deal with voting citizens like my parents. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid will never need be concerned as they have quite an income to fall back on, plus their medical care is paid for by all of us who pay taxes...it is about time that we send the message that those who do and still vote can make a difference and we tired of being stripped of our rights and having our needs met at the expense of those who do not contribute to our country! It is vital to Keep Medicare Fair and to desist from these illogical increases in cost.

Adrian Palmer

 

I cannot understand why congress allows Medicare to keep rising in cost by gigantic leaps, when the social security is raised meager amounts, not even enough to cover all rising expenses. Why can't congress put some kind of caps on these outrageous costs from doctors and hospitals. When you go to the Dr., you are waiting extreme amounts of time to see them, and then he talks to you about 4 minutes and he is gone. Then when you see the bills, they are astronomical. So are the Hospital bills. There again you have to wait long periods of time to get the aid you need at the time. But, the costs of Medicare and the unfairness of the cost versus the social security increases is outrageous. The Dr. charges high rates and when Medicare pays 80%,of the covered cost, that necessitates you having a supplemental policy. There again a high cost. Meanwhile, the Dr. just takes what is not covered and shows it as a loss on his taxes. Not fair.

Russell Spencer

 

Frustrated with a illness that can be tamed but at great cost to a Migraine sufferer. I suffer from extreme migraine headaches and I finally found a medication that will actually stop it before I get debilitated from its fury. It is called Relpax (40mg) and it costs nearly $200 for the dosage of approx. 6 to 8 pills. I have only received the samples from the doctors office and can't keep getting the samples from them. I also can't afford it since I am permanently disabled and can't pay for it with the little monies I get from disability. The other meds that I have been taking for my terrible headaches give me anxiety/shortness of breath and the other that is available to me through Medicare is not working any longer. I know people think that headaches are not serious like diabetes or cancer but they are extremely debilitating and painful. And I want to get help with this medication that actually works.

Why is that when something works the government seems to keep the people from getting the cure given to them at an affordable rate. Most of the time making one pill from another costs pretty much the same to make and distribute. 

To let you know that the Ergotamine I have taken cost approximately $80 per Rx (it does't work for me anymore). The Imetrex I also have taken costs $190. for 6 pills or 6 nasal applications. The Imetrex is the one that makes me have shortness of breath and very strong heart palpatations. So the Doctor recommended this new medication called "Relpax" that I really need. Can you please help keep Medicare fair and allow them to put this med on the list.

Thank you for listening to my issue on the unfair charges for medicines that work.

DOLORES GOLDEN

 

Medicare is my life line. How better can I explain the urgency and importance of keeping Medicare Fair.

I love this country and all that it stands for.

Please without Medicare this country would be in devistation. We help every body in the world and it is time to help our selves.

Please Congress our health is in your hands. I implore you to be fair. We need Medicare and we need your help to keep it honest and fair.

Rachel Nutter

 

My aunts and uncles are in their 70's and 80's. they have worked majority of their lives raising kids, clothing them,feeding them, taking them to the doctors when they get sick and neglecting their own health to keeping a roof over their heads on minumum wages.Now they are sick and on a lot of medications and on social security.What choice do you give them: starve to death, do not buy medication or do not pay your rent. People are dying but i guess you all do not care.

Why can't you all do something to help everyone besides lining the doctors, companies and your pockets.   

What ever happened to for the people by the people. KEEP IT FAIR AND AFFORDABLE

bernard lumpkins

 

I know many people that are on Medicare right now and I am getting closer to be on Medicare also. Everything is going up and as you get older you need your health insurance which I have seen people go without medical attention or taking the medicine that is needed because they can't afford the medicine that will help them. I have seen where a family member and a friend die because tey didn't get the right medical treatment or didn't take the medicine that they needed to take. Please keep the Medicare Fair, it's a matter of life or death. Thank you.

Charles Whiting

 

My mother passed away 6 days after being diagnosed with lung cancer, February 6, 2007. 

She retired in 1986. Rec'd my dad's SS until she reached 65. She rec'd Medicare until she died. This ins. was very important to her. She grew up in a rural area with no ins. She worked all her life & finally had Med. ins. She knew the value of having it. With her retirement income at the max amt. her later years were secure. Med. Care worked for her. Keep it fair for others like my cousin.

Today that is not the case for some. My cousin is 67, has stage 4 lung cancer. Medicare premimiums are so high he's left with about $250 a mo. Please don't go up on it. Men/women will not be able to live after having worked during their young years & are now too old and sick to work. Please help the working poor in America. We are beginning to feel like we live in a third word nation. Countries are judged by how it treats it old and young. Pls. keep Med. Care Fair.

3.) I have read and agree to the terms of the AARP release Yes

Betty Caldwell