Seniors rally against changes to prescription drug coverage
Sonia Sunger, ctvedmonton.ca
Dozens of seniors are voicing their opposition to a new provincial pharmaceutical drug strategy that will reduce costs for some, but will force middle income seniors to pay much more for their prescription drugs.
The changes which were announced in December mean single income seniors who make less that $21,325, and senior families with a combined income of less that $42,650 will not pay for drug coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
However, seniors who make more will have to pay a deductible based on their income, and that has many furious.
"Attacking the sick is what they seem to be doing," said Spruce Grove resident John Hartley. "If somebody in that government figures $42,000 is a lot of money, I got news for them."
Hartley says he and his wife receive modest pensions over the allotted $42,650, but he says its barely enough to get by, especially now that they'll have to pay for their prescriptions.
"This move by the government is going to cost not only me, but seniors with a modest income," he said. "We are both experiencing chronic health problems and as we go down this road its going to cost me between $1,200 and $1,700 a year."
Just days before the new provincial pharmaceutical drug plan was announced, Health Minister Ron Liepert said the changes were long overdue.
"It should have been keeping up with the pace of drug costs; it hasn't been, so we now need to ensure that we are taking steps to correct that, but we're not going to do it in one big jump, we are going to phase it in over three years," said Liepert.
Almost all of the changes will be phased in by July 2010.
Friends of Medicare Executive Director David Eggen, says the government needs to think about cutting costs in different areas instead of health care.
"We want to make sure the money hits the ground for health care, for people when they need it, and not being spent through million dollar severances and bulging bureaucracies," said Eggen.
Some seniors at the rally say they understand health care can get expensive, but they say they've earned the right to receive coverage.
"Seniors are costly, I realize that...however, we've earned this with our life in the province, we've earned this over our dedication to the province," said 80-year-old Anna Halder.
Liepert told the legislature last month that his department will look into the program and some believe that could mean raising the $21,000 threshold.
With files from Scott Roberts
Dozens of seniors are voicing their opposition to a new provincial pharmaceutical drug strategy that will reduce costs for some, but will force middle income seniors to pay much more for their prescription drugs.
The changes which were announced in December mean single income seniors who make less that $21,325, and senior families with a combined income of less that $42,650 will not pay for drug coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
However, seniors who make more will have to pay a deductible based on their income, and that has many furious.
"Attacking the sick is what they seem to be doing," said Spruce Grove resident John Hartley. "If somebody in that government figures $42,000 is a lot of money, I got news for them."
Hartley says he and his wife receive modest pensions over the allotted $42,650, but he says its barely enough to get by, especially now that they'll have to pay for their prescriptions.
"This move by the government is going to cost not only me, but seniors with a modest income," he said. "We are both experiencing chronic health problems and as we go down this road its going to cost me between $1,200 and $1,700 a year."
Just days before the new provincial pharmaceutical drug plan was announced, Health Minister Ron Liepert said the changes were long overdue.
"It should have been keeping up with the pace of drug costs; it hasn't been, so we now need to ensure that we are taking steps to correct that, but we're not going to do it in one big jump, we are going to phase it in over three years," said Liepert.
Almost all of the changes will be phased in by July 2010.
Friends of Medicare Executive Director David Eggen, says the government needs to think about cutting costs in different areas instead of health care.
"We want to make sure the money hits the ground for health care, for people when they need it, and not being spent through million dollar severances and bulging bureaucracies," said Eggen.
Some seniors at the rally say they understand health care can get expensive, but they say they've earned the right to receive coverage.
"Seniors are costly, I realize that...however, we've earned this with our life in the province, we've earned this over our dedication to the province," said 80-year-old Anna Halder.
Liepert told the legislature last month that his department will look into the program and some believe that could mean raising the $21,000 threshold.
With files from Scott Roberts
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