BAIT & SWITCH: BUSH’S MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION “DISCOUNT” FORCES ELDERLY AND DISABLED TO TRADE FOOD FOR MEDICATION
Whenever I think Bushco has stooped as low as it can go, it turns out I just haven’t looked low enough.
Bush’s give-away to the drug companies, the highly-touted Medicare Prescription discount program, extracts another form of payment from the disabled and elderly: those who apply will get their food stamps cut.
So we’re back to square one for the poor elderly and disabled: eat, or pay for your medication.
A dilemma which the Medicare Prescription discount was supposed to ease — when actually, of course, it’s become another multi-trillion dollar burden for the taxpayer, and free money for the drug companies who are protected from having to lower their obscenely high prices.
From the New York Times:
“The new reading of the Medicare law, set forth in a document sent to Congressional offices this week, comes just as federal officials begin a nationwide campaign to persuade low-income people to apply for the drug benefit.”
Of course: bait and switch don’t work, unless enough of the poor fish know about the bait.
“The document, addressed to elderly and disabled people who receive food stamps, says, “You may qualify for extra help paying for your Medicare prescription drug costs.” But it adds, “If you qualify for extra help, your food stamp benefits may decline.”
And, in some cases, eliminate it entirely.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/politics/08drugs.html
Outraged, much?
We need your help in expressing this outrage: who should we call, write, fax to protest this?
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