Seniors share concerns with Reid on Medicare drug bill

Kirsten Searer

Tuesday, March 16, 2004 | 9:38 a.m.

About 100 seniors met Monday to learn more about the new Medicare prescription drug plan. Many said they didn't like what they heard.

The Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans hosted the event at the Cambridge Recreation Center, where Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., told seniors about the drug plan set to begin in 2006.

Reid, who opposed the bill, said it will hurt seniors because it doesn't allow Medicare to buy prescription drugs in bulk and pass along savings to its clients.

It also bans the importation of drugs from Canada and could prompt some health care companies to drop seniors from their rolls, he said.

"This bill wanted to give a sweetheart deal to the pharmaceuticals, and they did it," Reid said.

Reid called the bill complicated and confusing. Seniors first will pay a $250 deductible on drugs. Then Medicare will pay 75 percent of drug costs up to $2,250 each year.

If a senior needs more than $2,250 in drugs in one year, he or she would pay 100 percent of drug costs up to $5,100.

After spending $5,100 in a year, a senior only pays 5 percent of all drug costs.

It all starts over again every year.

Scott Watts, president of the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans, said his group will travel around the state to hold meetings with seniors to educate them about the "pitfalls" in the bill.

"You're going to see a heck of a turnout of seniors at the polls this November," Watts said. "God help those people, whether they're Democrat or Republican, who voted for this bill."

Carolina Beckley, a retired teacher who attended the event, said she's concerned about her drug plan, even though she is covered by the state.

She said she has been a Republican her whole life but plans to re-register as a Democrat and vote against Bush, largely because of the drug plan.

"Many of our seniors are not registered to vote," she said. "We need to take care of that."