Volunteers Continue to Speak Out on Prescription Drugs
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-10-09 11:53:00-04:00
In an effort to keep informed about how AARP members are viewing the pending House and Senate Medicare prescription drug bills, U.S. Senator Thomas Carper recently met with a group of AARP Delaware's legislative activists.
During the Aug.15 gathering at AARP Delaware's Rodney Square office, the volunteers clearly communicated the need to have a prescription benefit in Medicare that's affordable, stable, accessible and available to all - regardless of income or where you live.
The top three "fixes" AARP members have indicated they are looking for are that the prescription drug benefit:
- will give employers good reason to continue retiree benefits
- won ' t penalize those who want to stay in traditional Medicare
- will cover everyone in Medicare
"We are very concerned about companies discontinuing benefits," Millsboro volunteer Miriam Gural stated. "We're also concerned about those who do not have any type of company health benefit plan," added Hockessin's Pat Engelhardt. "We have a number of Bethlehem Steel retirees who have lost everything," noted Rose Payne of Rehoboth Beach. "Obviously one of the flaws in the bills is that neither provides incentives for employers to continue benefits," AARP Delaware State President Charles Jackson summed up.
In addition to the concerns raised about employer benefits, the advocates discussed the Medicare government fall-back, re-importation of prescription drugs from Canada, the "donut hole" gap in coverage, private plans, means testing and privacy concerns, among other issues.
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