CA residents on Medicare--drug prices

[Guest guest]

Just a note for California Medicare recipients. In the paper today there

is an article stating that Medicare recipients are now entitled to the same

discount prices on prescriptions as for Medi-cal recipients, beginning

today, at pharmacies that serve Medi-cal patients. This does not mean they

pay for them, just that you are entitled to the same price on prescriptions

that you, the recipients, pay for in full. I think this came out of a

recent study that showed price-gouging against seniors compared to preferred

customers like the state or hospitals and HMOs, because there was a bit

about that on the TV news last weekend. Sometimes your elected

representatives do really come through for you!

You have to show your Medicare card, and it does not apply to OTC or

compounded drugs. There is a 15 cent fee for the pharmacy, to reimburse for

making the cost inquiry. The article states more info is available from

North Bay Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) if

needed, at (800) 303-4477. Hope this helps someone. The price differences

I saw on the news story were significant. I don't recall what some of them

were exactly, but remember seeing differences of at least $60 on some

prescriptions. Liz G

[Guest guest]

WARNING: RANT TO FOLLOW!

> Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 11:31:14 -0800

> From: " Liz G. " <pioneer@...>

> Subject: CA residents on Medicare--drug prices

>

> that you, the recipients, pay for in full. I think this came out of a

> recent study that showed price-gouging against seniors compared to

preferred

> customers like the state or hospitals and HMOs, because there was a

bit

Grrrr, nothing like a good lobby! Not that I have anything against

seniors getting the same treatment as everybody else, but real price

gouging is against the UNINSURED, not seniors. This stuff stinks. I hate

paying THREE TIMES what everybody else even gets billed because I'm

uninsured! Grrrr, I get billed $100, Blue Cross gets billed $33 for the

same service and the insured patient pays whatever they have arranged...

AND I HAVE TO PAY CASH UP FRONT OR CAN'T EVEN GET IN THE BLANKTY-BLANK

HOSPITAL!!!

GRRRRRRR

(rant done)

Geoff

[Guest guest]

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