The Medicare Maze Gets More Twisted

It always seems like it’s in fashion to blame the government for anything that goes wrong with prices, with the system or systems, or anything else that people can blame them for.  We humans just need to have a reason for everything that happens; that’s just how we are.

There are, however, some things that can legitimately be blamed on the government, at least in part.  Then there are other things that there is nobody else to legitimately blame, like the cost of gas or the problems with taxes in this country.

One area that the government gets most of the prize for is the Medicare crisis.  People blame it on poor planning, poor communication, poor management and a million other reasons, but they always throw the government into the mix no matter what they feel is involved.

In looking at the effects of whatever is happening and whoever is responsible, it has become more and more evident that the Medicare system is a tangled maze that is confusing to the people who are supposed to be helped by it the most – Medicare beneficiaries.  Most of these individuals are seniors, many of them are vulnerable, and all of them depend on the benefits from Medicare to help them maintain an ongoing relationship with a physician.

Many seniors who are covered by Medicare are not aware of the gaps in coverage that leave them vulnerable.  For instance, one lady with cancer who used to have a $50 copay for her cancer medicine now has to pa $300 out of pocket per month for the same medication while on Medicare.  She finally worked out the details and was able to get most of this covered, however, when she gets to 9 months of medication, she will hit the coverage gap – the black hole – where she has to pay for these prescriptions out of pocket for the rest of the year.  The problem is that nobody warned her about any of this, and she is unable to afford the cost.  As a result, she will have to go without or go to Mexico for treatment because there are no generic medications to use instead of the brand name ones she is using. 

This is a confusing and frightening situation that many seniors are facing today, and it is unfortunate that the Medicare maze keeps getting more twists and turns rather than less.  Hopefully the government can make some positive changes that will help simplify Medicare, and, for a change, they can get blamed for something good.

Filed under: General-Medicare

Tags: gaps in coverage, General-Medicare, Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare crisis