Momentum Grows to Halt Medicare Penalty

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060514/ap_on_go_co/medicare_drugs;_ylt=Ahq5wuDNrhnzOp9bGBjbtdKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-

Momentum Grows to Halt Medicare Penalty

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 33 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A pivotal Republican is joining the congressional drive to eliminate the financial penalty for people who miss Monday's deadline for enrolling in the Medicare drug benefit, the latest sign of a growing rebellion against President Bush on the issue.


Rep. Nancy Johnson (news, bio, voting record) said she has talked to enough colleagues to believe such a proposal would pass, probably in the fall, and plans to introduce legislation to waive the penalty.

"The bottom line is this is a democracy, and the Congress responds to the people and shapes the program so it's good for them," said Johnson, who heads the House Ways and Means' subcommittee on health.
.........

It is also significant that the Republican chairman of the
Senate Finance Committee is not ruling out an effort to block the penalty. Sen. Charles Grassley (news, bio, voting record) of Iowa said he will not consider changes to the prescription drug program, in place since Jan. 1, until he goes over final enrollment figures.

[rodeodance]

1. "probably in the fall," !!

[aquart]

2. But they still haven't grasped that the program is a sham and a failure

No matter how much time people are given to enroll?

[salin]

3. Doubt it will happen... Jr was just lecturing seniors at an event lst week

telling them that deadlines are for a reason... and people have to learn there are consequences for their actions (patronizing SOB that he is).

More than that - jr shoved this version of the bill down the throats of a reluctant congress. His gift and legacy to making the GOP a long-time one-party ruling party in DC by, as the political thinking was, making sr.s end their trust in dems (due to social security) and instead affiliate with the GOP.

In bush's mind he is NEVER wrong. He seems to think that the deadline is going to result in a mad last minute rush to join up and give him the numbers to tout how wildly successful the program is - and what a good friend to sr.s he is - and that indeed he is the savior of the GOP party. :eyes:

Point being - bush is wedded to this - and seems convinced that the deadline (and fear of the consequences) is the only thing that will get the enrollment numbers needed to declare "Victory" of a sort.

Could be a bit of a big bull-headed showdown on Monday - given that GOPers on the Hill are facing an angry electorate and a delay to the fall will get them past the election before the penalties are incurred, hopefully (for them) quelling some of the anger.

[Vinca]

4. The VERY LEAST they can do is extend the date.

Why is it such a big deal? The whole program is a complete mess and doesn't make sense anyway. Does anyone know what happens if you're a senior who is not on any drugs, but you want insurance just in case? (Here Grandma, throw a dart at the board and we'll take a chance at what illness you might have in the future.) The real kaka hasn't hit the fan yet, either. Many are unaware of the "donut hole." The donut hole will kill people.

[mvd]

5. It's all a big corporate giveaway

It doesn't make sense to those not in those corporations. They're even breaking their own free market principle by not letting Medicare negotiate for lower prices. The creeps in power will resort to any hypocrisy.

[bobbieinok]

6. was told by 1 provider '85% of seniors were paying 100% for prescriptions'

This was in response to my questioning the provision 'you pay co-pay up to ca $2200, then pay 100%, then when amt up to ca $3200 you pay very low co-pay.'

My question 'Why the 100% pay for ca $1000 if this is supposed to help seniors?'????????????????

[Pastiche423]

7. Twice I have been sent a package by Humana

Twice I have written on the envelope: "Return to Sender" and placed it back in the mail box.

I refuse to go into the red financially for something that would not help me.

Yep, I'm one of those millions that have not signed up......and won't.

In November 2003, I stayed up and watched the House vote on this issue. From the time the votes had originally been counted, until the gavel came down, was over three hours.

I knew then I wanted nothing to do w/this bill once enacted.