LOWER DRUG COSTS FOR SENIORS

Lower drug costs for seniors!

Yesterday, Biden and Harris announced their agreements on lower drug costs for Medicare recipients. There is a limitation in that the lower drug costs would apply only to the first 10 medications selected under a Medicare price negotiation program – whatever that means.

The program is needed. Elderly are the big drug recipients. I am 89 and take 15 prescription pills a day. Some are expensive, very expensive. I no longer carry drug insurance. I did for years. However some items not covered, some games played by the drug company ridiculous. I checked going without. Found the cost with a few providers cheaper and after some years with one, cooperative. No bullshit games. I buy my drugs directly from Walmart’s. 

Another problem with the present system is that the cost of drugs is so expensive, many go without. Not healthy.

I have believed for many years, even before I became Medicare eligible, that all types of health care should be government paid. Health care is a right. Consider what occurs without some form of drug coverage for many. Pain and suffering, discomfort, even death.

Drugs are extremely more expensive in the U.S. than most other countries. We only have our politicians to blame. Congress and even Presidents. They have permitted the pharmaceutical companies to get away with the rip-off.

Some negatives that turned out to be false.

A movie studio executive said, “TV won’t last six months…..People will soon get tired of starring at a plywood box every night.”

In February 1962, Dick Rowe was head of artists and repertoire at Decca Records. He said the Beatles and rock music would not make it. Soon after the Beatles went on to success, as did rock music in general.

Trains were becoming a bit popular in 1850. Irish Professor Dionysius Lardner said, “Rail travel at high speed is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia.”

Re the sustainability of meat, Gustav Bischoff of the Meat Packers Association in September 1913 said, if current consumption trends continue, America in the 21st century will live “as low-caste Chinamen do now, on rice and vegetables, and like hives, slothful creatures, anemic and without initiatives.”

Moving on.

Ukraine’s offensive in Russia appears larger than just the Kursk region.

My words to Zelensky: “Go man, go! You and your people deserve this kind of retribution. War cannot be one way only. The other side only gives in if they are  knocked in!”

Russia sentenced an American woman yesterday to 12 years in prison for a donation aiding Ukraine. The woman is Kesinia Karelina, a beautician living in Los Angeles. She was visiting family in Russia when arrested at the airport as she was leaving.

The donation was around $50. That’s all. Twelve years for 50 bucks! I hope Zelensky used the money to pay for some of the fuel for one of the planes now bombing Russia.

Kesinia’s phone was examined. It found a donation of $51.80 to a U.S. based non-profit that helps children and elderly impacted by the war in Ukraine. Russia claimed the $51.80 provided “financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of our country.” Russia claimed the money was “used to purchase tactical medicines, equipment, weapons and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

Let’s hope Harris can get her back to the U.S. while she is President.

Secret Service screwed up again! What’s going on?

This is the best. Actually, the worst. At a North Carolina Trump rally thursday another incident. Five minutes before Trump was scheduled to arrive, a female agent abandoned her post and was found in a room breast feeding her baby. Without permission!

Not only no permission to breast feed, she also lacked permission to the have the baby with her on the job.

I cannot believe the majority of Florida citizens support the new abortion rule that went into effect today. Beginning today, people can no longer access legal abortions in Florida beyond six weeks of pregnancy, except in rare circumstances. The new restriction replaces the 15 week ban that went into effect in July 2022 shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Bad law! How do Floridians make their male dominated State Legislature get away with it?

Outstanding article in Vanity Fair 8/6/24 by the esteemed Bess Levin: Republicans Think Trump Is Having a “Nervous Breakdown” Over Kamala Harris.

He appears to be! Hip, hip, hooray!

This past year, Trump in some respect has been beaten by a woman more than one time. It is going to happen again when Harris does it!

Unquestionably, this has been the hottest year on record. Even so, the GOP platform does not mention word “climate.”

The “why” is simple. Coal and oil corporations and persons basically that are Republicans. They have banned its mention. No way they want “their people” or others to believe Trump is not for climate change remedies.

Makes one point very clear: Trump and Republicans are not for climate change.

Sad! Wrong! Sick!

Two great Americans died on this day in different years. Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 42 in 1977. Baseball great Babe Ruth died in New York at age 53 in 1948.

In their plot episode, The Lone Gunner thwarted a plot to hijack a plane and crash it into The World Trade Center. The episode aired in March 2001.

Two terrorist operated planes actually did crash into The World Trade Center six months later on September 11, 2001.

When I mention “a busy day” for me, keep in mind the six hours I have already spent doing the blog. For example, I started today’s blog last night. Spent two hours. Returned to it at 4:30 this morning. Just finishing now at 8:15. A busy day otherwise. A visit with my Mount Sinai doctor for the aortic aneurysm I still have. He is trying to decide what to do. Then a bank visit. Later this afternoon physiotherapy. 

That’s a full day for me.

Enjoy your day! 

8 comments on “LOWER DRUG COSTS FOR SENIORS

  1. Lower drug costs for seniors is just a political pandering by Democrats for their vote. Do we really need to help 70 million people with reduced drug costs? What is this country coming to?

    • Gabby…..Respectfully, you do not know what you are talking about. Write back and let me know how old you are. You are not my age 89 nor anywhere close to it. If you were, you would be on a ton of prescription drugs which you need to survive. Yes, live. And they are all expensive. Two I must have each day are very expensive. In the $600 to $700 range. It takes insurance and/or special programs to be able to afford them. The more expensive such as those two means death in a few months without. Again no disrespect, but you are ignorant of the facts involved.

      • I totally agree with you Lou, I have a vitiman B shot once a month to help my Kidney anemia. It is $800 a pop! totally outrageous, and that $800 is WITH Medicare insurance.

        Republicans rammed through the Medicare “Part B” (covers drugs) over the outrage from the minority Democrats and then blamed them as “against medical coverage” for retirees.

        Everything is a game with them, and it is average Americans who eventually suffer from this game.

  2. I do not wish ill will on the people of Russia but they will eventually pay the price for the vanity of Putin. I suggest they get ahead of it and fix this beforehand.

    • I felt the need to add something as an afterthought. To the American people, far too many of our elected officials and those running to be are using Ukraine as political fodder. Remember, freedom is not free. Sending dollars is better than sending boots some later time. Stop complaining about the cost of achieving peace and democracy.

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