“I’m pleased to report that over the weekend we reached an understanding that will help close the notorious ’doughnut hole’ in Medicare Part D.  This is a significant breakthrough on the road to health care reform -- one that will make the difference in the lives of many older Americans.”   

~ President Obama / June 22, 2009

Yes, hurray hurray for seniors over fifty on meds, most of which are generics, unless they happen to have AIDS.  There are a lot of seniors with AIDS, don’t get me wrong, and the number is growing.  But what about me, I’m on a fixed income, am I the ONLY one paying closed to over $7000 to Big Pharma annually?  Every year the “doughnut hole” grows larger: ’08 $4050; ’09 $4375; etc.  Who knows how much it will be with I’m a senior?  This “doughnut hole” was a typical half-assed Obama move.  No mention of creating a Federal ADAP system, or, god forbid, a PEPFAR for the United States?  (Giving drugs away to AIDS orphans in Florida...that’s preposterous?  Uganda...do you want my FedEx number?)  I have written my senators, posted blogs, and even drafted a letter to President-Elect Obama on Change.org, hoping desperately he would make a different.   If Prez Fierce Advocate REALLY wanted to make a different he should have cut the cost of the “doughnut hole” for ALL participants on Medicare, more importantly people with AIDS whose only option is brand name drugs.  I guess Obama isn’t man enough to really tangle with Big Pharma, start looking at their balance sheets, and see who’s getting rich while people are still dying.  Geez...first I was feeling like a second class citizen because I was too gay, now I’m too young?...fooey!

Trying to be positive,

Dplus

 

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