Submitted by Tom on Mon, 2009-08-10 21:52
By Jim Jorgenson, as published in the Ames Tribune, August 1, 2009
As a retiree I believe one of the top priorities for health care reform should be closing the so-called “donut hole” in the Medicare prescription drug plan. For several months each year, the donut hole forces one out of every four retirees to pay full price for their prescriptions while still paying their monthly premiums. The donut hole is nothing but a big gift to the drug and insurance companies.
You pay money, but get nothing in return. Can you imagine going to a restaurant where all they give you is an empty plate – but yet they still force you to pay for a full meal?
Fortunately the health care bill in the U.S. House would start closing the donut hole. I urge the Iowa congressional delegation, Tom Latham in particular, to make sure that this becomes law.