The Medicare donut hole

December 17, 2007

Some are calling it brilliant.



Related posts:

  1. The Angry Pharmacist on the Medicare donut-hole
  2. The hole
  3. A diagnostic hole in one
  4. A hole in the palate
  5. Hospital: "We are like a donut shop"
  6. The real Medicare myth
  7. Medicare pay for performance, what went wrong?


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{ 7 comments }

1 Evan December 17, 2007 at 11:29 am

A government program that Kevin thinks might be brilliant? I’m seeing stars.

2 Kevin December 17, 2007 at 11:33 am

I didn’t call it brilliant per se, but pointed to some people who did:
http://thehappyhospitalist.blogspot.com/2007/12/part-d-brilliant-self-rationing.html

Kevin

3 Evan December 17, 2007 at 11:52 am

That’s true. And I assume that since you didn’t discount the claim you at least give it the possibility of being true, correct?

4 Anonymous December 17, 2007 at 11:17 pm

Evan,

It is not the government program that is brilliant — only the part where patients are responsible for their own treatment, in otherwords the part the government does not cover.

5 Evan December 18, 2007 at 11:18 am

Anon 11:17:

Of course that logic eats itself, since before the donut hole there was zero coverage. If your argument is true, then Part D is a disaster, since previously the patients were exactly as you describe the ideal situation — fully responsible for the whole price.

6 Anonymous December 18, 2007 at 1:35 pm

Yes it is a disaster, as is medicaid, medicare, and all other government entitlements.

7 Larry B January 11, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Fees for services is appropriate, for those with the ability to work and earn. For those on disability due to serious mental illness, the donut hole is financial or mental doom. I facilitate a faith based support group for the seriously mentally ill and personally carry several members over the donut hole. Monthly psychotropics can cost $1500. That cost is not therapy!

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