Drug Plan's Side Effect Is Severe

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Chapter 3

This activity contains 3 questions.

What barriers have cancer patients encountered in trying to access cancer fighting drugs under Medicare part D?

Many drug companies are requiring the elderly to sign-up for Medicare D, which effectively removes them from the drug company's charitable program.Some cancer drugs are not covered under Medicare.Moderate income disabled and elderly do not qualify for charitable programs that assist with co-pays.Once signed up for Medicare D, many do not qualify for the free cancer drugs they were receiving from the drug companies prior to enrolling in Medicare D.The high up front co-pay for drugs is prohibitive for fixed income elderly and disabled.

What is the underlying assumption about the value of life under the current Medicare structure for elderly and disabled without the means to pay for drugs or co-pays?

The right to live or have a higher quality of life is directly related to one's income level and access to assets. As one 79 year old woman taking an anti-cancer drug and who could not afford the $2800 co-pay said to her pharmacist..."I said, 'O.K., pull the plug on me right there,' "blahblahblah

What is the probably economic impact on the drug companies under the new Medicare D and accompanying rules and policy changes?

Drug companies will make more money through Medicare drug coverage reimbursements.Drug companies will save money as elderly and disabled sign up for Medicare D and become ineligible for the drug companies' free drugs and co-pay assistance programs.

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