By now everybody knows that their Medicare payment is going up next year, right? Want to know why? NYT did an article about safety concerns about a new "treatment" for Alzheimer's disease. A recent report of drug trials reported the following: "The data showed that 425 of 1,029 patients, or 41 percent, who received the high dose of the drug — the dose that the F.D.A. later approved — experienced either brain swelling or bleeding. Sixty-four patients had to stop participating in the trials because of swelling or bleeding." From the NYT article, we also learn that, "The F.D.A. approved the drug in June even though a council of senior F.D.A. officials, an advisory committee of outside experts, and many Alzheimer’s specialists said it was unclear whether Aduhelm could benefit patients and that the drug carried serious risks of harm". Not only this, but the drug does not appear to be effective. Did I mention that it will cost $56,000 a year? Medicare is going up because CMS is setting aside a reserve fund in case it decides to cover this Alzheimer's drug, Adulem. We have a drug that causes bleeding and swelling in the brain, doesn't work and costs the earth. Welcome to the United States.
Today we signed up for a high deductible Plan G Medicare supplement and the Aetna Siver Scripts Plan D. It's giving me a world class case of the willies to leave the plan we've been on since 2007. It was very comfortable and convenient. We will ultimately save money, but one of my drugs goes from $30 for 90 days to $98 for 30 days. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm sort of pissed about that. However, our Medigap monthly premium goes from $402 to $47 so that's a win. There will be more spread sheeting to determine which drugs to fill with Plan D, like the Tier One drugs that don't trigger the deductible, and which will go to GoodRX. It's all dreadfully tedious, it gives me a headache and makes me very cranky.
Yesterday we went for a walk, the sun was out briefly and so we went up the hill. Also, we'd been spread sheeting for awhile and I was cranky. My new Carhartt gloves are much warmer than the cute gloves we got at Kohl's. I was happy about that. There was some fog visible out in the distance. The wool socks are working, as well. My feet were happy.
This afternoon it is really foggy.
So, other than working with the spreadsheets and fretting, there is not too much happening here.
Ugh. That kind of spreadsheeting IS miserable. Bon courage!
ReplyDeleteAgain, I am so grateful to be a Canadian. Yes, we pay for the costs through our taxes, but when I'm standing at the drug store counter I'm grateful that the cost I pay then is generally low.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can only imagine how folks who don't have great math skills and spreadsheet knowhow manage their insurance.
My county, low population and rural, only had two options for supplemental plans. What I picked way back when I first went on Medicare has been working for me so I don't bother reviewing every year. I probably should but, oh well.
ReplyDeleteI feel so fortunate that neither of us are on meds (yet, anyway)! Barry has Medicare part B only and no supplement, and I'm still on the ACA for a few more years. My premiums are much higher than his. Both of us are lucky to be very healthy at this point so only use our preventative visits. Good thing -- we are not big fans of spreadsheets. Our home-building spreadsheet is about all we can handle at this point. Glad the socks are working out!
ReplyDeleteI left my Cadillac retired teacher plan (at $360 per month) to a $99 Medigap plan and a Well Care prescription plan. So far it hasn't been terribly complicated since Medicare pays for most everything anyway. I'm on one medication (so far) and that's covered OK. Medical insurance and care in this country is a labyrinth.
ReplyDeleteThe Man still uses the VA mostly and only uses Medicare when we must go Civilian, so Thankfully the plethora of Meds he's on is covered by his VA benefits. As for me, for now the Base covers my Diabetic Meds for Retired Military Dependents, but when I turn 65 in August I can no longer use the Base Clinic and Medicare then becomes a thing I have to contemplate covering what won't be covered... I'm already confused and dreading it, seems more complicated than it has to be IMO. Using the Medical I got from Retiring from the DA's Office was out of the question, COBRA charged more per Month for the Premiums than 10x my whole Pension, which was just ridiculous, so thankfully I qualified as a Retired Military Dependent for The Man's Insurance after he Served 39 Years. It doesn't cover everything Civilian and most Civilian Doctors won't even take it, but mostly I used whatever the Military Base offers at the Clinic and only see a Diabetic Specialist once every 3-6 Months. I much prefer Eastern Medicine to Western Medicine but Insurance won't cover that at all as an option so I've always paid out of pocket to see my Chinese Docs, less invasive and works to help the Body Heal itself, not just use meds to mask symptoms and keep you dependent on drugs that big Pharma and Docs profit from. No Money to be made in keeping people Well, what can I say...
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