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November 10, 2009

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Letter: Elderly caught in trap of rising medical costs

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002 | 8:57 a.m.

How does the Social Security administration come up with a 1.4 percent cost of living in 2003 for Social Security recipients?

That is an insult. My husband will receive about $9 more per month, and I slightly more, and Medicare is going up $4.70 per month. This leaves him a net increase of $4.30 per month.

Meanwhile, our HMO is raising the cost of co-payments to specialists, from $15 to $20, and brand name prescriptions from $20 to $40. In fact, nearly every item on the plan has been substantially raised for 2003. They give with one hand, and take with the other, leaving us far less than we had before the raise.

The dilemma many of us are left with is: Do we buy food, pay rent and utilities, etc., or take care of our medical needs? If only a 1.4 percent inflation exists, why the need for all the big increases? I guarantee none of the decision makers would consider exchanging their monthly income for both of ours combined. Incidentally, we are both in our mid-80s.

Will they ever get their priorities right?

THELMA JAFFY

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