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"MEDICARE ADVANTAGE" TO WHOM? Thank you so very much Frank for this one!!! I just confirms what I have always know, that Medicare is the best way to go .I was on an HMO a few years back and found out the hard way that it is not what it is said to be. In fact, I was denied an MRI on my back. Had to jump through more hoops to finally get one to prove that my back is detracting! I had a friend contact me and ask me why we get our flu shots from the UK but can't get our drugs from Canada? I thought that was a fair question. Quinn Let's do some arithmetic out of your latest weekly column, Frank. First, take $139 billion government-supported windfall from new law to pharmaceutical mfrs; Next, subtract $141 million lobbying cost; Result: nearly 1,000% gain on lobbying investment. Also, subtract from the result, almost ($125,900,000,000) whatever pharmaceutical companies spend to advertise prescription drugs. [Is prescription drug advertising allowed in Canada? If it isn't, that might explain the price difference in one fell swoop.] There, we have the amount of money the mfrs have available to spend on both maintenance & research. I think they're actually buying real estate, corporate jets, and tax shelters, instead of spending that much on research & quality control. For example, after insisting on its concern about foreign-produced drugs, our good old FDA got egg on its face this past week with its failure to inspect & monitor flu vaccine production in a U. S. company's foreign manufacturing plant, or at least, to require the U. S.-based mfr to produce to FDA standards regardless of area of the world from which contamination emanated. Thank heavens the Brits have better inspection standards than we do. Now, this rather routine vaccine is unavailable to many citizens through FDA failure to hold a U. S. company to the standard. Robin Kuykendall I worked as Business Office Manager for physicians for 20 years. As things started changing, and all the HMO's, PPO's, IPA,s etc. started coming in, it didn't take me long to know "THIS WAS NOT A GOOD THING". Personally, When I became eligible for Medicare, I did not hesitate, I TOOK IT....Then found my Medigap policy. No, on my measly income from my early SS+Disability, I cannot afford the Medigap policy, but it is still MUCH MORE INEXPENSIVE than the alternative. PLUS, "I" get to choose what Doctor and Hospital I want to use. MY VOTE IS WITH THE STANDARD MEDICARE!!!!!!!! Mary Budzeika I want to thank you for the article on Medicare. I found it to be informative, and enlightening. If I didn't have Medicare I would probably be up to my eyeballs in debt from the open heart surgery I had 2 years ago. Thank you for the Senior Website, and the tireless effort that you put into keeping us old folks informed, and bringing us some humor into our lives. PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! J.R. Burrows You must live in the State of Florida. In the State of Washington, Medicare pays nothing. And I do mean nothing! My sister has been to the doctor quite a few times in the past year and Medicare has not paid one single penny. So depends on where you live. I'm glad it helps you. People here who have only Medicare are screwed. I just recently quit my health insurance. I'm 62 and not eligible for Medicare yet, not that makes any diff. My monthly premium was $358/mo and it's going up $45 in January. Mary M. In 1997, before the Blue Cross/Blue Shield HMO went belly-up, I never spent a dime on anything and I had a brilliant eye surgeon remove my cataracts. OF COURSE, they tried to "put me off" in a number of devious ways, but my daughter got a hold of Karen, of the Eye Management Division and told her I was driving blind and if there was an "incident or an accident," there would be repercussions. She asked Hollie, "To what are you referring?" My daughter (ex-legal secretary) in low tones stated...."3rd Liability Law Suit." Within less than five minutes I was scheduled for surgery. After the Blue Cross HMO hit the skids, I chose an HMO which has been in business for a long time. WHY? Because they CHARGE. It's $10.00 for an office visit. Blue Cross charged nothing and they went out of business. When I compare notes with my friends, whether they're on an HMO or NOT, or on Medicare, they don't get any better care than I do - they get cranky office help, they have to wait as long as I do - in fact, I wait LESS. I have an accommodating doctor and accommodating office help. The doctors are rushed and maybe if you're lucky, you'll get eight minutes time with them...and that's whether you are on Medicare or an HMO. I have enough friends on Medicare and I see NO difference in their care in comparison to mine. Pays yer money and takes yer cherce. Joan Locker You are my hero! And I am sure there are many others out here who feel the same way. You really keep us informed on what is going on with prescription drugs and many other issues important to our lives. I could never access so many articles on my own. Wouldn't even know where to start. Thank you, thank you. And you also make me laugh with some of your articles, the most recent being about the move to the retirement community. Anita Geffinger Greetings from Texas Gulf Coast! I agree and disagree with you. We moved to Texas 4 and 1/2 years ago and in our previous state we had great Health Coverage with Blue Cross/Blue Shield that would pick up what Medicare would not. I called B/CB/S here in TX and they did not even want to give us the time of day. After explaining to them our out of state policy they told me "We don't have anything for you." Our Government along with the drug industry want the public to think that these high-priced drugs will cure anything. We do need our surgeons and some drugs are necessary. Thanks to the powerful drug cartel and their influence with doctors the over-medicating of our Senior Citizens is shy of being criminal. Our government does not encourage a healthy wellness lifestyle. How can they when the drug companies run our government? Ann Jensen Our whole county is off limits to the two Medicare-plus plans available here in New Mexico. If I want to use either of them I will have to move to Santa Fe. Why? Because folks here in Los Alamos use their med plans. For instance, the country's average use of mammograms is in the 70 to 80 percentile. In Los Alamos 97% of eligible women get mammograms. So they dropped us. This after cutting back the prescription drug cap year after year. These plans are just snake oil. However, I did beat the last one I was enrolled in. I got a knee replacement to the tune of $25,000.00 in the last month before they dropped us. I can guarantee it won't happen again. Eunice Riemer I live in Massachusetts far away from Humana and the other insurance companies you mentioned. Friends in Florida agree with you about the HMO's provided by these companies in Florida. However, here in Massachusetts the two HMO's in my area, First Seniority by Harvard Pilgrim, and Blue Care-65 are quite good. We have First Seniority and for $81/month have 100% medical coverage after a $15. doctor visit co pay and a max of $300 per hospital stay. I'm wondering what kind of supplemental insurance you have that pays what Medicare does not. I know that the Medex plans are very expensive. What Medicare does not pay especially for a long illness is frightening and potentially bankrupting. SirFinder .ALMOST 2,500 SIGN UP FOR RXNEWS. Frank, you are a turncoat! I always heard that everyone has his price. But you? Siding for Big Pharma? Dee Please stop your e-mails to me regarding you total dislike for President George Bush. I thought when I subscribed that your help may be gotten in possibly getting drugs for less. As it seems, your total intent is to discuss the Presidents's ineptitude in helping to get drug cost down. I believe the AARP was the organization that let the seniors down by not helping us senior to act as a club, group, major buying block or whatever maybe necessary to negotiate with various drug companies to enable seniors to buy at lower prices. Supply and demand is the name of the game. In a capitalistic society, that is the only way to get prices under control , not socialistic medicine. Joe Burton You have subscribed to the Suddenly Senior RXNews list. To all who choose to subscribe, I send current articles and columns I feel are possibly of interest to readers from both sides of the political spectrum. I don't write them. I don't even like some of them. But I feel that readers need both sides, and that they can certainly be discerning. If you don't want to receive such articles, cancel. I didn't sign you up. I can't cancel you. To stop news of interest about Medicare and Canadian drugs, send the e-mail to remove-rxnews@suddenlysenior.com But YOU have to send it. Frank CONGRESS. THE PERFECT JOB FOR SENIORS You forgot the little known benefit that retiring congressmen can keep the funds that remain in their campaign fund and take it as tax-free income upon retirement. When you vote a certain way and receive a payoff in the short term its called a bribe. When you vote a certain way and retire and convert vote-based campaign contributions into tax-free income its called a congressional benefit. I despise those bastards in Congress. Lately I don't feel like a citizen, I feel like a victim of political rape wholly funded by corporate interests and sanctioned by congress. Michael Dougherty WANT TO READ THE COLUMN FOLKS ARE WRITING ABOUT? CLICK HERE!
Are the Canadian pharmacies on the up and up? Bob Zelenka
Bob, the licensed pharmacies in Canada are regulated to a far higher degree than our own. See http://www.suddenlysenior.com/canadiandrugstores.html I have to ask....What do you do on Saturday evenings? I would fly almost anywhere to hear your standup routine. Michael Stone PS: To bad we can't get the liberal press to write the way you do. Might get the other half of the US off their sorry derrières and vote these bureaucrats out of office. We need to put the brakes on some idiotic legislation and stop some of the lawmakers from making more laws that suit only themselves. We don't need more and more isn't better unless it is money or food. I am too old so we need some new blood in the Senate Thanks, and get busy on your acceptance speech. Bill Burgin Wonderful article and so true. My contention is that every second election everyone should be voted out of office before they become entrenched. this includes the good, the bad and the really ugly. John Insprucker Love the column. Was watching CNN this am and they were talking about the 9/11 report and how congress must go on vacation even if the report says we need some immediate changes. God it must be nice to go on vacation and enjoy all the perks of the office and not worry if the people you serve get killed by a terrorist attack while they wait until next year to act on the report. What ever happened to special sessions when we have a problem that both parties need to solve for all the people in this country? With luck they will do something during the next 4 years and not take 10 or 20 years to act like they did on the rx for medicare that does so little for us. Joe Wythe Frank, can I be her campaign manager? Ron Fields "When a prescription is filled at your local pharmacy, the drug is in a bottle with no indication where the drug is manufactured or the name of the distributor. Carolyn gets MY vote if you live in New York and she is a Democrat. I always said my mom and dad should have been the co-Secretaries of the Treasury. Believe me, the country would be in excellent financial shape if they were. Now they were people who knew how to budget! Kay Burns To paraphrase Forrest Gump -- "Run Carolyn Run!" Maybe "us girls" can turn the tide and get some decency up there - it sure needs it!!! Vernice Shipman What a great article, Every American should read it. I do a weekly column for the Zephyr, a locally owned newspaper here in Galesburg, Illinois. For this week's column, i am going to insert your column as you can see from the attachment. Carl Tannert Note: Suddenly Senior appears in more than 35 newspapers across the US. See http://www.suddenlysenior.com/kudos.html My doctor's nurse recently helped me fill out forms to obtain Lipator from Pfizer....supposedly free, and backed up my income info with copies of the forms from the return I had to make out to get my property tax refunded (I only found out I could do that two years ago). The wonderful Pfizer people won't help me because I didn't make out a regular 1040 income tax return to send them a copy of. (Frank I don't make enough over my Soc.Sec to require my making out a regular income tax return. Now I ask you, aren't the very people who don't have enough income to be required to file an income tax return, the very people who most need Pfizers help with their drugs? Faythe Dick FIRED! AT 63. Carolyn, I was so "fired up" at Dollar General because of the way they treated you! I'll tell you - I'll never again go into a Dollar store - you can be sure of that! Glad you got a lawyer - you go girl!!! Good luck. Vernice Shipman Guess you'll have to have your own column from now on - Move over, Frank! Sandy M You're my kind of hero. Congrats. I like the slogan "Don't mess with us!" My heart aches for you. My soul champions you. If there is anything I can do to help you win your fight against corporate America, I am happy to do it - letter writing, telephoning, whatever. I have two Dollar Generals in my town, well they wont see me as a customer again. Betty Sue Thanks for letting me know Carolyn and I look forward to learning the events that transpire as this continues to unfold! I'm glad you did something about it! Gerry William I often go to Dollar General to purchase items. But after reading the article about the 63 year old woman who was fired (and how the new manager screamed at her etc.) I will not go back into any Dollar General store again. Why don't all of us Seniors who use to shop at a Dollar General Store Stop! I am sure that we make up a good percentage, we could spread the word across the country "Seniors Do Not Shop at Dollar General. Hedda Smith I was in a local Dollar General, where most of employees recognized me since I was in store a couple of times a week. While I was waiting in the check out line the cashier was taken ill and had to be taken to hospital by rescue squad. I was very concerned about her because she was very pleasant and helpful to customers and knew many by name. I didn't see her for awhile, and would inquire about her when I was in the store, and get the reply they didn't know. I thought this to be odd, but after a few weeks of going back in the store I never saw her there. One evening, I was in the Winn Dixie, and saw her shopping. I immediately approached her, and asked how she was doing and mentioned that I have missed her at Dollar General. She told me that she was admitted to hospital for a few days to run tests, and found that she had a bleeding ulcer. When she returned to work a week later, she has informed that her position had been filled, because of her poor performance on the job, and was rudely escorted from the store, and told not to return to the store. I haven't shopped Dollar General since. I got to speak my piece to the manager some weeks later upon seeing him in the same Winn Dixie, and upon spotting me, he approached me and asked why I haven't been in the store. Well, without burdening you with a lot of detail, I got to speak my mind, and told him what I thought of Dollar General, and how they treated people, and I will never set foot into another Dollar General as long as my feet stay upon this earth. I totally embarrassed him since I didn't exactly whisper my opinions in the presence of the other customers at the check-out lines. J R. BURROWS PLEASE send a list of Dollar General management contacts that we can rattle over their myopic policies!! Our voices may not be as crisp as before, but we can surely vote with our diminishing dollars where to make our major and minor purchases. Perhaps it is time for Suddenly Senior and AARP to publish a list of Senior-Friendly companies that we can patronize and thank for their holding loyal workforce! David Nusbickel Dollar General Corporation
LETTERS...JULY 12, 2004
Let's take away that little old ladys' small social security check away from her and see if that helps. Do Republicans really think she would have saved more on her own, does he really want to return to the good old days before social security when old people had no choice of what to buy because they had no money at all. Survival of the fittest, that is the Republican way. Will S. I've been meaning to write you for some time now, for the front page article in the June Senior Beacon (NH) entitled "Son of Scam." You are the first person, maybe the second, I've seen in the 50 senior papers I work with to reveal that the senior drug discount card has no clothes. And with such wonderful vitriol, too. It needs to be said -- we are being held f*****g hostage by Big Pharma. Now comes the July issue of the same paper with your follow-up, "Meet Greed, Inc." Wonderful! And we see you are very well-experienced in this whole issue. John Stickler, Mature Market Editorial Services Maybe it's time to reorganize The Gray Panthers (where are they?) in time for the election. I can feel a ground rumble over this drug issue and the powers that be are going to learn that seniors can and will fight back in the form of votes! Pat Cook You know, the Bush administration and Republican Congress astound me DAILY with their clueless, collective ability to piss off all the neighbors, either one at a time or all together, take your pick. These are not the "values" my parents and grandparents taught me! Have these people never had to deal with the "comes around" part of "what goes around?" Robin In our area people can get a Senior discount on their property Tax, utility bills and help with prescription costs. People really need to check with their Senior Centers to find out what is available to them. Quinn Thank you for the up-to-date thinking on sex. I am a nurse with a specialty in Geriatrics and also in that age range and that is what I am telling my nursing students and anyone who will listen. However, due to those statistics, the outlook is bleak for femalesas far as a partner is concerned. I have been a widow for eight years today and not enjoying it. Vivian Geyer I don't know about that one Frank. I have a good friend whose husband has Alzheimer's Disease, unfortunately. His libido has NOT faded with his memory, so Sue has taken to telling him, "But Vinnie, we just DID that!" Kay Burns Another great column, and now I know why you have such a positive attitude. You have a great wife. I am well past sixty and sex now is the best I've ever known. Mind you I was a sick old duffer at fifty and then made some drastic changes in my life. I was down to a limp two or three tries a year so something had to change. I got into some serious study and action into the way I eat and the supplements I take. I sharpened up my diet and now I sometimes hit three times a week. ( If I said 'always' I would be bragging ) Now I use that part of my anatomy as a measuring stick to gauge how well my eating habits are working. When the meter is up I have a happy wife. ( and me too ) Joan's husband, Cecil I don't doubt anything you have to say about "sex over 60", but as one of those 42% of widows, who may be willing (but not sure if able as it's been awhile) reading these stats does not do much for making me feel better. Dr. Ruth may be right , but without a partner it doesn't matter if I'm able or not, and for me the alternatives just don't do it like having a live body, who cuddles, says those provocative words, makes me feel beautiful even when I know they may not be completely true, nor leaves me with memories to savor. A vibrator induced orgasm is like eating carrots when I'd rather have chocolate. I'm sure that a large number of your email audience, male and female might fall into this category with me. For those who are lucky to still have a mate, partner, lover, whatever-I am happy for you-for those of us other ones-guess we keep walking, eating healthy foods, using our computers, and work those cross word puzzles to keep our memories-of those days gone by when the sex was good. Name withheld for publication Of course, we all knew it would happen this way. How's this..... instead of the store fronts affiliating with anything with Pharmacy, or RX, or drugs in the name, the stores could simply become Florida Seniors Fax Transmission Facilities. Charge a dollar apiece to send them, and that's all they are. What any customer wants transmitted/faxed and where, is their own business. Office depot does it all the time, all over the world. And all office service outlets for that matter. Will the State of Florida go after Office depot for not being a pharmacy? Eventually, anyone will be able to walk into Costco or Walgreen's and get the real thing. Once again, you have "spoken" to my spirit. I think you know what I mean, because your writings of this type say so much! We all need to write to our elected officials in Washington and tell them what they can do with their great program. It would be wonderful if we all made the kind of money they do. Edna I have experienced the trials and tribulations which you have described. Additionally, here is my current dilemma: MY DAD'S BRIEF AFFAIR & Other Letters That was a wonderful piece of writing. I'm sure you have to be of a certain age to enjoy it and I certainly did. Eunice K. Riemer As an occasional senior columnist myself, let me pay you the ultimate tribute on this week's efforts—I'm envious. That stuff about being a Ford man or a Chevy man—straight on stuff. Nice going. Bill Reinka Nice column, Frank! For a minute or two I was 17 again. God, those were great cars. Bob Askey
I remember back in the early 50's when I saw an ad for a Caddie convertible and the price was $2500. I said then I would never own one because I would never spend that much money for a car. Well I have never owned one, but I have owned quite a few of the other brands such as Chrysler , Dodge , Plymouth and De Soto. Chevy, Pontiac, and Buick (My favorite). Neal Laur Frank—I loved the piece on cars. We were a Chrysler family. Dad had the Chrysler and Mom had the Plymouth. You're absolutely right—you could identify cars from one another with no problem at all. What a terrific piece. Mimi I guessed the right price for your Dad's car. We were brought up with the work ethic, weren't me, and I did that with my daughters. When they turned 14, I got them working papers. Told them I had to work and they were not going to stay home and fight with each other. Jean in Maryland This is one of the best you've done. In 1939 my father took me with him when he went to buy an Olds. The price was $850.00. In MAD Magazine a few years ago there was an article about additions to cars to make them better. Have a straight windshield to cut down reflections, hang the spare in the back to increase trunk space, runningboards for easier entry, and exit, etc. You then turned the page to see the improved model. It was a Model T Ford. Bernie I really enjoyed this morning's column and it brought back many memories of the 50's .. that safe era. I have a page on my website that might harken back some memories for you too. My father owned a restaurant in the early 50's and I have one of his actual menus recreated at http://www.seniorsforjobs.com/1956%20Menu.htm. The prices are hard to believe. Jacquie Allen That Cadillac was out of my price range because in 1961 I was making $2,080 a year. ($1.00 hr.) But I was able to buy a really sharp 1960 Olds (with the help of my Dad, of course). I've never loved a car more than that one. Not even the Cadillac I now drive. Enjoy your columns. Lois Beaudrie Pretty darn hard to forget about those "big fins" on Cadillacs and other cars of that day that sported them. They were really sharp looking. The chrome used in cars those days was so beautiful. Whether on the bumpers or on the dashboard, I still miss the beauty of it. The "killer" though, was a 1955 Chevrolet that had that "sunburst" horn on the wheel. Punctured lungs in accidents. They didn't last... Looked good, but were deadly. Yes, people were REALLY "into" being "Ford, Chevvy, Olds, Buick and Cadillac people." Fords were considered the "poor man's car." Even in recent years, the Ford name has had dubious interpretations of its name, i.e. FixOrRepairDaily or FoundOnRoadDead. Joan Locker Payed taxes on that when I was working, doing it again? YEP! I wrote hand letters to both of my Sen. to my Congressman, of which Iknow him,and to President Bush. They are all in Show Business. I got a Song,Story and a Dance. All but for Bush have been there since Reagen or before,voted for these bills and now say Ain't my fault. I won't vote for them again,if they get Re elected Ain't my fault. Sorry that I got carried away but our country is being carried away in a Handbasket. Robert Sexton One plan to insure that Social Security is properly fixed is to put all government employees on social security and eliminate the special benefits provided to them at present. If the Senate and Congress face this situation, there will be a rapid remedy. It is foolish for them not to share our fate. W. C. Brown And you know what, Bill? Congress has passed such bills with great fanfare, most recently to be under then new Medicare drug bill, then voted against doing that in the middle of the night when no one was watching. Seriously, they did that! Frank
THE LAST WORD ON MEDICARE DISCOUNT CARDS & Other Letters My husband is not eligible for the $600 rebate. His income is slightly over the $12,000/year. The retail cost of his prescriptions is $435/month - so you can imagine how helpful this Republican scam on seniors is for him. And with the "donut hole" - the program is absolutely useless for him. Alice Thomas I'm pretty disappointed in your Anti-American attitude. Yep, I say you are Anti-American. You must think your cute little pot shots against the current President will in some way ingratiate yourself to your readers. To me, they're just cheap shots by a petty man. The President didn't send out some greetings to your 80+ year old friends? Oh my, what a tragedy. If that's what it is all about to be a senior, if that's what I have to look forward to, being selfish and self-important and whining and being the "Gimme Gimme Gimme Generation", then maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones and get taken early before I lose my sense of what this world is really about. Robert Teeple I am, perhaps, petty. You should read other columns of mine to make that determination. But I'm certainly not anti-American. If you'd read my columns, you'd see that as well. When it comes to our president, however, I admit that I am blatantly against most of the actions of the current Bush Administration. I believe that it imperils the health and welfare of millions, that it is a threat to our freedoms and to our Constitution and it is a menace to the world. Today, I see this administration hurting seniors in so many ways. I cannot in good conscience keep quiet. Not getting a promised letter may seem petty to you, but it's a big thing to an 80- or 90-year-old citizen who, too, loves their country and waits by the mailbox for recognition that they deserve. Frank When I filled my husband's Rx for Cozar 100mg today, the cost had almost doubled. It went from $46 to $62! Amazing. He does not have insurance coverage and is not eligible for the $600 credit. Mary Hagan Senate bill 2328 will open the US to free trade on pharmaceuticals. That competition will bring prices down. Call your senators and tell them to cosponsor this bill. Frank We seniors in British Columbia have different Health Care Problems, but, like you folks, they are not senior friendly, at least this present government sure is not. The last government allowed BC seniors 15 chiropractor sessions a year, plus 15 of naturopath, massage therapy, Physic therapy, and one other, I forget (see I am senior; -}) Now we get 10 a year, not of each, but only 10 total. They also discuss the two tier medical system, trying to convince everyone that we are NOT on a two-tier system. BULL! If a person wants to go the natural route, we pay our own way, no help from gov (except those 10 little bits) so we pay our own way, BUT, and a bigger but, we still, by law, have to pay the $54 per month to pay for the privilege of doing our own thing. Sometimes I would like to visit the MD just to use it up. Now I am not saying that doctors are no good, that is not true, and if I was in a car accident I would sure want to have my leg or arm set. But for the average healthy person who does not go to the doctor for the common cold or even flu or sore joints (I do natural things to help) I have to pay for the privilege of paying for natural care, 'Nuf said. Cheers Joan Bund Our system is two-tiered. The haves and have-nots. Last year, 82 million Americans had no coverage at least part of the year. Disgraceful! Frank I have sent presidential greetings to elders for years, but you can also have them sent for a 50th (or more) wedding anniversary, which I have also done. And don't forget the governor of your state, senators and congressmen. All of them will send greetings to constituents for those over 80. Love your columns. Keep up the good work. (And your Jokes of the Week are a treasure!) Molly Grimm Your column about AARP is shocking. The NRA does get what they want. I am a disabled veteran and I know the DAV and VFW have some clout. 35 million members of AARP should be able to kick ass but they whored themselves to the drug companies. Keep exposing them! John King WANT TO READ THE COLUMN FOLKS ARE WRITING ABOUT? CLICK HERE! IT'S THE FIFTH ANNUAL GEEZER TEST! ARE YOU 'OLDER THAN DIRT?' & Other Letters I got them all right and then wondered if even bothering to take such a test means I'm now really old. I'll be 80 next month, but I regularly eat lunch at the Senior Center with people lots older than I am so I can't be very old. Any way, it was a lot of fun. And you are right about No. 8. We girls were sold on girdles because they were supposed to make you look like the models in the magazines. They didn't, but we never tumbled to their true purpose until later. Eunice K. Riemer Oh, boy, am I older than dirt!!!!!! and I'm only a 'Heinz 57', soon to be 58. UGH!!!! Love your Suddenly Senior newsletters, they keep me 'young'. Angel aka Donna I have taken care of a loved one for the last five years who is inflicted with Alzheimer's. I am absolutely furious over Bush's refusal to loosen up on research - because he is concerned about 5-day-old embryos in fertility clinics that probably will be destroyed any way. I wish your column would get on the band wagon and promote stem cell research. Even Nancy Reagan, hardly a wild-eyed radical, is a proponent of same. Please do me and thousands of others a personal favor. HELP! Alice Thomas You probably already heard about the deal they struck with Home Depot to employ seniors. Wonder tho is anyone has done the math. Home Deport has over 1,700 stores , Home Depot has received, according to release from AARP, 11,000 applicants thru their "great" program. Now it started in February of this year and , WOW!, 1,000 have been hired. Less then one senior citizen has been hired for ever one store. A senior has one in a 1,000 chances of being hired. And when one goes to the web site to apply one finds a pay site to apply. Wonder who owns that site?? AARP once again has struck gold in another PR scam. Thank you for all this valuable information. Your service to seniors outshines all the info AARP attempts to provide. Wm. Bradley Even tho I very rarely ever take part in any form of test, since I am retired and don't have to anymore, I felt that I just had to take this one to see if I was really older than dirt. As it turns out, I am almost as old as dirt, but I missed 2 answers, so that makes me to not be a perfect old geezer. But since I am a charter member of the Grouchy Old Man Club, and my official certified title in the club is: Grouchy-Technophobic-Eccentric-Geezer-Hermit. So, for me to not be a perfect geezer that is as old as dirt won't bother me all that much. But I do want to thank you for the short walk down memory lane. Steve Luke REMEMBER WHEN SERVICE STATIONS OFFERED SERVICE? & Other Letters Thanks so much for taking the time to do the newsletter. I remember Mobil Gas and Flying A, I loved watching that little globe on the gas pump bubbling while the gas was being pumped. Thank goodness we still have attendants in Oregon that pump our gas. 'Ethyl' here is $2.59 today. Linda Barnhart I have been disenchanted with ARRP for some time. I believe it has turned into a Republican controlled group. When any group is this large and which can greatly affect an election you can be assured that some political organisation is going try to control it or sway any decisions it makes. For years ARRP has preached that it represents retired people. This may have been true in the past but it is now in bed with the Republican party and any decision it makes is heavily influenced by a greedy political party that will do anything to stay in power. Most of these politicians are owned by "big business".They and ARRP do not serve the citizens. "Big business buys almost all politicians with their obscene donations to make sure they are elected and their interests are safe for another four years.and the saddest think about this situation is we the voters(or non-voters) have the solution to all these problems . IT IS CALLED A VOTE. If we would get off our butts and vote, all the money in the world would not keep these crooks in office . and it does not cost a dime. Think about it..lets all get out there this year and tell them with our vote that. "WE'VE HAD ENOUGH AND WE AIN'T GOING TO TAKE IT NO MORE ! " THANKS '"SUDDENLY SENIOR" Hang in there. We need the help Great job!! A. Gene Smith First of all I want to thank you for your newsletter informing us Seniors about the misinformation and noninformation concerning our medications. The question I want to ask that I have not heard of any information or speculation about: What is the possibility that the reduction in cost for Canadian pharmacies has been passed on, in form of increased costs, to the American pharmacies??? Jim Howe Personally, Jim, I think you could take Canada completely out of the equation and our US prices would be just as high, as high as Pharma's immoral greed -- aided and abetted by Congress and the White House -- can push them. Frank Do I remember? You bet! My first full-time job was at an Oldsmobile garage and one of my part-time tasks was the gas station. For 20 cents a gallon, we filled their tanks, checked their oil, coolant, battery, etc., washed the windshield (at least), looked for low tire inflation, etc. I was paid the princely sum of $1 per hour, $40 (less taxes) per week. We worked from 7 am to at least 5 pm, more commonly 6 pm. So we probably worked more than 50 hours for those 40 hours' pay. And we were glad to have jobs. Pete Malone A buck an hour it was, and it wasn't bad money either. Consider that gas is about the same price as it was -- 20 cents = $2 -- that buck equals ten an hour today, almost double today's minimum wage. Frank Think you for sharing those days with us. Too bad things had to change so much, especially the service we used to receive. My first car was a 1947 Chevrolet Club Coupe so I can relate to those days too. Carol Here in Arizona we had Blakely stations and with every fill up they gave Blakely glasses or cups and saucers. After you collected eight glasses you got a carrying device, metal with a handle. Every glass had a different type of cactus on it with the name of the cactus. Some people used them but many just put them in the shelves and saved them...for what I don't know..that fancy desert dinner party? I remember the gas wars well. We also got down into the low 15 cent range during that time. I was one of the few girls that had their own car then, a Rambler that would go from Phoenix to Tucson and back on fifty cents. In the hottest weather the air conditioner installed on the hump in the front floor area would get so cold it would form ice on the front panel. It was great. I wasn't allowed out of our small suburb, but I hate to admit the car and I went to Tucson and back many times just because we could. I never was a women's libber though and still am not, just a little bit of a rebel. It could have been worse. The seats went down flat. Anon. Our compliments (Included is my husband Al) and keep up the good work! You must have some really good experiences and an even greater source of "inside info", to be able to put together each week's column! It takes a whole week to read, laugh and absorb all ! Keep it up! Al and Hilda I went to the Medicare Web site and tried to look up three drugs that I must take daily. One drug was never found even though I looked at a large number of Card Companies. The second drug was available b y several Card Companies but the price was higher than I pay now at my local Pharmacy. The third drug was available by a few drug Companies but none in my 50 mile area. I would have to deal with a mail-order house to get that one. They also list it as a Generic but a generic of this drug has not been made and will not be made for several years, it is too new. LATEST ON MEDICARE DRUG CARDS & Other Letters I have been concerned since the Pfizer card has been saving me about $200 a month and was to expire Aug. 31st and the drug cards at Medicare looked like rip-offs. I deeply appreciated the Pitch Test on the latest jokes page. I have good hearing, thankfully. I I also very much liked your "Son of Scam" column. Forwarded it to all my senior email correspondents and printed it out for my computer illiterate neighbor. You sure know how to smash the snot out of a nail. Forrest Landry Son of Scam indeed! My doctor told me that only the US and New Zealand allow pharmaceutical companies advertising to consumers. How many billions would be saved if the federal government banned this? That would cut prescription costs, insurance premiums, useless drug taking by demanding hypochondriacs. It would also save my appetite -- nothing worse than side effects warnings on TV of constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. prime time over dinner. Yuk. Give us a break! Susan Pierres I am almost seventy and decided to help my fellow seniors by facilitating their purchase of medicine from Canada. I am angry about what is going on, especially the sham that AARP colluded in, and Tommy Thompson, Congress and the White House railroaded through, so it became law. It's a travesty and you told it like it really is, but why didn't your fire and passion and truth also show up in TIME or Newsweek or anywhere else? You may be on Pharma's hit list if you keep this up. Maybe the big rags are playing it safe. You were superb! What a great analysis of the BS that has been pushed through our Congressional system., not for the benefit of the citizens...but the benefit of the drug companies. Tom B. I hope that too many seniors don't fall for this Medicare Prescription Scam, too. Did you notice how poor that you have to be to qualify. But, it's slightly above the income to qualify for prescriptions through the VA, Medicaid, etc. The amount of income to qualify for the prescription benefit is absolutely poverty level, especially if there is no other income for husband and wife and they have property taxes, transportation, utilities, food, insurance, etc. I am still working at age 72 to pay the above plus medication that is approximately $1200. a month minimum. George Bush and his administration could care less about any of us. As long as he keeps those happy that contribute lavishly to him and his party, everything is fine with him. He could not hold a job in the working class of today. DUH!! Betty Murphy I am sick of hearing and reading complaints about President Bush. People seem to want what they want, when they want it, regardless of the state of our country. Do you really think that President Bush, himself, is responsible for whether or not someone's dying grandmother did not receive a birthday card before her death? [ See http://www.suddenlysenior.com/presidentialpride.html] I am requesting a card for my grandmother, who adores President Bush, as do I, and if it doesn't show up in time, I'll still love him for his courage to stand for his principles on the issues that matter (by the way, "Presidential birthday cards to seniors" is not one of them). Also by the way, his commitment to the value of life is one of them, something you seniors should be mortally grateful for. Christen Ingalsbe p.s. I'll be interested to see if this shows up on your website. I doubt it. Why did I think that you are a Canadian? I read with interest the article of the 'son of scam' about medical cards. (see, I am already getting old, not quite sure what you called them). It seems that these things are just in USA and the mode of less expensive drugs is to buy them in Canada. Great! I only take a pharmaceutical for thyroid problems, all the rest we rely on alternative health care. We buy organic greens and make a very green drink in our very old Vita Mixer every morning and evening. We also use various vitamins and natural food products and we believe we are getting younger, not older. Of course if I got hit by a car and smashed in my leg (or head) I would want it patched by a doctor, but we never go to an MD for cold or flu or stuff like that which we hardly ever get anyway, we just increase our garlic and Vitamin c intake and drink even more water. I feel sorry for people who rely so much on the pharmaceutical industry, but then I guess we are no better, we rely on the vitamin and herb industry. Joan B. If you are as old as I am and have worked for civil service during WW2, you would say this is gobbledygook. In other words, words that mean nothing. I pity the seniors with no education who fall for this scam. I am keeping the plan I have. No thanks Mr. Bush. Ginnie The entire medicare bill is a fraud. Seniors have been taken. What would happen if NOT ONE SENIOR applied for a card? The money spent on those phony ads is being investigated - that is money that could have helped indigent seniors. Get from Canada and don't believe the stories put out by the pharms in this country. Seniors had better face the issues and use their clout in the elections. Not only are we being hurt, but our children and grandchildren will no longer climb the ladder. Rita Lombard It sure is time for this country to take care of our own! Pat Cook After reading some of the "PANS" in your latest column I was reminded of the recent quote by BILL MAHER- "The true Axis of Evil in America is the brilliance of our marketing combined with the stupidity of our people." Re: "I would rather trust the AARP than two partisan politicians, especially Teddy & Hillary." This comment made despite all the published info on William Novelli's association with Newt "wither-on-the-vine" Gingrich!! Thoroughly enjoy your web site. Peter V.Anania What gall Pfizer has to claim with such a straight face that they are chocking off supply to Canadian pharmacies who serve Americans because they are concerned about the safety of the American patient, while at the same time being forced to admit they will encourage dangerous practices if there is a buck (or a few billion bucks!) to be made. Laurie Gauthier You seem like such a nice person wish I could meet you. You have a such great sense of humor it comes out right away in you website name - suddenly senior- because its really true it does seem to those who think young and feel that way we cant believe were suddenly a senior. I also love your humorous stories about yourself and your wife. I think you should write more of them. They're absolutely great. Have you ever thought about writing a book named suddenly senior? You should really consider it. Frank it will make you rich, what with all the baby boomers, so many people can relate. You are cool and have a great sense of humor and it shows in your writing about this bitch of a thing getting older. Dee Am I supposed to feel sorry for foreigners for having to share the cost of R&D for drugs while they're raising the price of crude oil every stinking day and hating our guts more every minute? I don't think so. Tex Richardson I'm under the impression that the drug companies receive a great deal of research money from the US government. Why would Canadian imports hurt research by the drug companies? Gerald Marrs It would be inconceivable to reduce political donations, advertising, executive compensation, or exorbitant profit margins. Only research and development is considered expendable? How convent! A defense of greed by attacking a sacred cow. Garry Spencer As long as the drug manufacturers spend more money advertising for remedies for baldness, erectile problems, and heartburn than for research by far, don't believe that they are in dire straits . They do not sell to Canada for less than the cost of production. I ran a company for many years and I had to make a profit. In most states I could not charge one customer more than another. The drug companies seem to size you up and use tea leaves to determine the cost to a particular company. This just has to stop. The Canadian government is just better at negotiating and to allow US companies to "cut them off" in a fit of pike is ludicrous. Phil Wood, Senior- and don't know how I got here My idea is to make advertising for drug companies illegal. That would save them enough advertising millions to keep lower prices and still do research. WHY NOT? We did it for alcohol and cigarette advertising. You are doing a great service for us and I appreciate it. New Zealand is the only other country in the world besides the US that allows consumer advertising by pharmaceutical companies. Bush and his cronies are like kids eating stolen green apples from an orchard. Not a thought whatsoever to the proven experience of bad results. ....and don't underrate yourself. You are still a tremendous influence and shining light for seniors. Thanks. Problem is, many seniors don't know all the facts. Keep on pushing, pushing, pushing the truth. T. There is a bit of a wider context. Tommy Thompson who had a reasonable rep as gov of Wisconsin got embarrassed by his Medicare chief, Tom Scully threatened a civil servant with firing if he revealed his estimate for Medicare Drug bill. Jim Cash 
This is a fact that was with held from me until I had cashed in all my savings, my 401, AND taken a loan from the credit union in a futile attempt to keep my beloved wife in medication. When we had nothing left to pawn, she ran out of her life saving medication, and true to the warning labels on the bottles, died two days later. It was THEN, when the coroner was taking her body that an eldercare representative (whom we had been trying to contact by telephone for weeks to get put back on the Medically Needy program.) informed me that as a Korean War Veteran, I could have gotten her medication from the VA. I find it ironic that the two pharmacies (Walgreen's and CVS) including themselves in the fight against the Bush administration, regarding importing medications, are two of the highest priced pharmacies around. Instead of talking about how upset they are that people cannot afford medicine why don't they reduce their own prices? Many seniors cannot get to other pharmacies and rely on the closeness of these two giants who seem to have a pharmacy every half mile. SM I look at the people for the bill and against the bill and then seem to understand the battle a little better. AARP for the bill, people who look out for the seniors, and Hillary and Teddy against the bill because they didn't get it passed. Its GREAT to see Seniors sticking up for everyone! You are awesome. Again, freedom of speech brings the truth to bear unto rectitude. (That is not a bathroom word.) Thank you for exercising it, and for persuading others to exercise it, too. Me? Worry about big pharma? No way. All I have to do is drive by every busy corner in this country, and see how at least two corners of the primest of prime real estate in every town are occupied by a pharmacy. Robin Kuykendall Points to ponder: OLDSMOBILE R.I.P. - Letters Thanks for the memory. The best car I ever owned in my life was an '91 Olds Cutlass Ciera. It is resting in peace now. People teased me about my 'old fart's' car. I told them Olds gave it to me for free to prove classy young chicks drove them, too. What a car! Kay Burns I, too, share the sadness and the memories! I remember riding with my grandmother in her "Heidi-Olds"...she also had the block on the floor (maybe it was tied to the accelerator or brake as she was short). And, I learned to drive on my father's Rocket 88 sky-blue Olds convertible—fave car ever! Wasn't the center of the steering cool with its raised blue dome with the planets (my recollection anyway). The license plate was "DB 88"—Don Ball and 88 for Mom, the pianist! Fondly, Mary Hoeltzel I really enjoyed your piece on Oldsmobile history. My dad opened his first garage in 1914 and named it the Gem City Motor Company and at that time he was able to sell all makes except Maxwell (the local undertaker sold them). When I came along the field was cut down to Buick Olds Pontiac and Chevrolet. We did not have a new car every year. I remember going on a ride in a 1928 Chevrolet with four doors and a soft top and window curtains with plastic windows. The next car was a 1929 Chev four door and we took the first long trip in that new car and went to Colorado Springs and the Black Hills of South Dakota. We did have one delay in our trip to get our gas tank repaired from a rock hole. Most of the roads were gravel or scorio. In 1936 Dad bought a brand new Olds with a flathead 6 engine and that got the nickname of "old limpy" because somehow the valves would stick and dad would have to take the head off and loosen the stuck valve. The Olds was quite a prize in this little town full of model T and model A Fords and a few Plymouths and De Sotos and quite a few Chevs. In my lifetime, I have owned several Olds, Buick, Chevs and two old Fords. I have fond memories of the 1970 Olds 88 which was my first "Big Car" which I kept until it turned 144,000 miles without a whimper. You of course, are welcome to delete any or all parts of this letter right down to the last period but I thought you might be interested in hearing from another Olds fan. Bill Rounce, Sidney, Montana My first car was a '49 Olds convertible, RED! I was 18 in Long Beach, CA in the Navy. What a great car to learn to drive with, and what a great place to drive! After driving out there, I figured I could drive anywhere! I would have liked to be with you at Oldsmar for the party. Thanks for the memory!! Bob Weiser Thanks for the column on the Oldsmobile. I've just finished it. Today I said to a man driving a new Nissan, "This roofline was on my grandmother's 1948 Oldsmobile." The Nissan, coincidentally, was about the same shade of burgundy as Granny Vickers's car. Oh, Frank...I, too, share the sadness and the memories! I remember riding with my grandmother in her "Heidi-Olds"...she also had the block on the floor (maybe it was tied to the accelerator or brake as she was short). And, I learned to drive on my father's Rocket 88 sky-blue Olds convertible—fave car ever! Wasn't the center of the steering cool with its raised blue dome with the planets (my recollection anyway). The license plate was "DB 88"—Don Ball and 88 for Mom, the pianist! Mary Hoeltzel Good one. Now here is one for you. When the Rocket 88 came out in 1949, GM borrowed the music from Gus Edwards, and changed the words as follows: Come away with me Lucile. in my smart new Oldsmobile In performance it's a star, it's a Rocket Engine Car, Futureramic through and through, it has Hydra-Matic too, Won't you make a date with an 88, it's a brand new thrill for you. Words unknown, probably their ad agency. Bob Diorio Loved your article on the Oldsmobile. My husband and I owned a 1986 Olds Station Wagon and used it as a Taxi. When we gave it to a friend, it had over 1 million miles on it! We had the first engine rebuilt at about 450,000 miles, and continued to drive it until we were forced, by Dade county taxi laws, to replace it with a new vehicle. I felt sort of sad about the death of Oldsmobile. But then, I have felt that way about them for a long time. It seems to me they haven't made cars comparable to those of the 40s, 50s & 60s since - they were in the forefront on features, engineering, etc., with good quality at a decent price. But somewhere in the 60s, they seemed to lose their way. I guess that is why GM is down to less than 30% market share, from 65% in their "heyday." They got so big, with so much bureaucracy & political infighting, etc., they couldn't address business. MISC. RECENT - Letters Bush Joke of the Week - Not funny! This is a good way to lose readership. One more and you will lose me! L. Throop I'm 82 and my annual drug bill was 5600 last year. So, I did what you,ve been preaching. I am doing thpaper work with my doctor to buy from Canada and on the 5 most expensive will save almost 2000 skins this year. Keep on preachin' brother and it will come to pass. bob levin, Mt Gilead, NC You might want to take a look at the Eugene, Oregon Register Guard the past week or so to see what has been happening in Oregon. The state has closed down a couple of operators in the state who have been helping seniors order their medicines from Canada. Our governor is "gravely concerned", but not doing anything about it. Norma Van Natta Guess you heard the EEOC voted 3 - 1 to allow employers to reduce or eliminate retiree's health benefits. And I read this was with the support of labor unions. What gives??? If this comes to pass, my meager budget is down the tube. Buying a supplement to Medicare plus coverage for my wife - not yet on Medicare - will about break us. Bill Cunningham BROM (broke retiree on Medicare) I certainly share your concern about the recent events and issues addressed in your St. Petersburg Times column on April 27. The continued unraveling of the "old safety net" of Social Security and Medicare by all of the past Presidential administrations is a reason to be alarmed and requires one to voice their concerns and opinions. Most certainly the current administration have demonstrated arrogance and an attitude of fiscal irresponsibility toward all citizens. Tax cuts for the rich do not help most citizens meet their obligations. Frank Kaiser's article "Washinngton's umbrella is leaky" should not be stuck on page 17 of The St. Petersburgh Times Seniority Section for only seniors to read. It should be on the I do not send messages to you often but I think your new message board is good. After being totally disappointed with AARP after their support of the new medicare prescription plan, I thought about asking you to start a new seniors organization. After a little thought I knew this was a tremendous undertaking requiring tremendous resources and time. After all you are retired (I think??) as am I. Maybe your new message board will blossom into something that will give AARP some to think about. Let us hope so. Your avid reader, Ron I have been hearing that we should want no part of "socialized medicine" and would agree. However I feel we should have some control over these rich pharmacy companies getting richer day by day as we scrounge to find the funds to pay to be more comfortable or even stay alive. Faythe Dick Frank replies: I've been talking to Canadians about their system. They all love it, acknowledging some problems. What is this deal where companies are going to be able to cut medical insurance benefits to retirees on medicare. The EEOC just decided it is o.k. to discriminate against seniors as long as corporate America gets a big boost and savings. This is disgusting! What do we do about this situation where those who are supposed to protect us are helping to bury us? John King The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted yesterday to allow employers to reduce or eliminate insurance coverage to employees when they become eligible for Medicare at age 65. The ruling by the Bush appointed EEOC creates an explicit exemption to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to allow the practice. It permits employers to reduce health benefits for retirees when they become 65 and eligible for Medicare. The ruling removes the requirement that senior employees receive comparable medical benefits for performing work comparable to younger workers. I still say, CANADA is the BEST BUY that I have found anywhere, and researched many Canada Pharmacies, and still go on and check every once in a while. But when I do, I keep going back to CanUSAdrugs.com for the best prices I have found anywhere. ARE WE EVER OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER? - Letters Making the same mistake again and again and self-examination about doing it is an extremely interesting conundrum. Remember Thomas Edison went through over a l,000 mistakes on the light bulb before he finally got one to work. Even if it is the same sailboat, why shouldn't the 2nd or 3rd one finally be the one that is the right one. As for your toe, I do that all the time. There are other things more important than moving CD racks and even though it hurts like hell, you weren't trying to complete a project. It was an accident! Loved this one. Mimi Aikens No wonder you are an inspiration to us all. The things that make us feel like old geezers, are so clever explained and dismissed by you, that it almost makes us look for ward to doing those "dumb" things again and again. Your wonderful outlook on life is so much fun for all. I for one will continue to revere you, toes or no toes. Jazzy Judy Stubbing the toe is one of the most annoying things. I hate it when that happens. Your most recent column made me think of the movie "Stella" with Bette Midler and John Goodman. It is a great movie in my opinion. A favorite quote of mine from the movie is "she was doing fine until she stubbed her toe" (meaning she got pregnant).Ouch! My daughter and I say that to each other now and then. It was one movie we both enjoyed together several times; so good memories abound. You may stub your toe on the CD rack, but think of the music you have available within reach. Mistake? You decide which is right. Carol Gilbert Frank, don't move that CD rack any place! You won't find it. My husband hates it when I (or he) move things around the house. Then he can't find them. And he is merely 65. Thanks for the insight. Ramona MOVE THE CD RACK ! ! ! Sometime in the past I must have "stubbed" my middle toe and I now have a "ganglionic cyst". I'm diabetic, so I took it to a doctor who "popped" it and said I'd probably have to live with that darned thing the rest of my life (almost 66 now). At the risk of I told you so.... stop abusing what you need to walk on.... LOL Confucius Say:" He who trips over the same rock twice, deserves to stub his toe" Ted Geisert MEET GREED, INC. A SENIOR'S NIGHTMARE - Letters I think there's another factor here: do people really need to take all of the drugs they are taking? For one, there are often alternatives that are possibly less invasive. But it sometimes takes courage to explore these alternatives, when drugs seem so readily available, and doctors seem so willing to prescribe drugs as the first line of response. the pervasiveness of drug advertising sets up a climate where taking drugs is assumed to be the cultural norm, thus making it seem like the only thing to do. If we stop supporting our drug habits, then the pharmaceutical industry takes up a much less important place in the aging hierarchy. David Newman, Eugene OR The Pfizer Chairman was on a talk show yesterday and said that he didn't know how much profit they make. He said he didn't focus on it. Corporate BS!! Tom Braun
How can FDA keep a straight face while it impugns [sp?] the purity of Lipitor coming from Canada, when the pills start out in UK-related Ireland? Pfizer can't vote, and all concerned need to remember this. VOTE, dear Seniors! Vote against corruption, instead of for what's in it for the individual voter, when it hurts the country. Congressional and executive votes can be bought, but that voting booth--and this republic--is all OURS. Robin S. Kuykendall There is an interesting article about Canada and their battle with the American drug companies. It is in Fortune Magazine dated March 8, 2004. One of the points is that they will manufacture their own drugs. Bernie I take Celebrex manufactured by Searle. Cost at my local Walgreen's (with my BC/BS drug plan) $84.88 for 30-day supply which is all they will allow. Canadmeds price $144 for 100......except that Searle is limiting their supply so they hope to be able to fill my prescription in a month. So there is another one! Lois Beaudrie I find it amusin, not really, that there's a notion that the FDA shud screen drugs that were exported from the US, before they can be imported from Canada when we are the one with the counterfeit problem, not Canada. Reminds me of the dog chasin it's tail. The FDA says that they'll have to enlarge their staff an budget to screen the drugs that are imported. I spose that'll drive the cost up higher than we're havin to pay right now, thereby discouragin importation. Bein a Texan, I voted fer GW as governor and as president, but if he don't git his hand outta the drug company cookie jar, he's gonna be in a world of schit. Everbody that believes our government won't lie to us, hold up their hand. That's one way we Texans spot idiots. I thoroughly enjoy yer stuff. Keep up the good work. Tex Richardson Suddenly Senior is a partisan anti Bush newsletter disguised as a newsletter for Seniors. Kerry Paulson I would propose the US government legislate fair pricing laws, preventing any company from selling to major suppliers in the US for more than the lowest cost for specific volume purchases in other countries. This would allow coops to form, purchasing volume amounts of these drugs. I am no rocket scientist, and I fully understand there are many considerations to be scrutinized, but this would be a good start for discussion. The rest of the world must pay their share of Pharma's R&D. Lawrence Russo, M.D. ANY politician can allow the FDA to ram their "good ol boy" system of "you pat my back and I'll pat yours" down out throats should be brought up on criminal charges for conspiracy and or price fixing. Just think of the what could have been done for seniors for health care and prescription plans with the 80 Billion Dollars going to rebuild Iraq who don't want us there in the first place. Instead they'll force us into a privatized plan for drugs that will cost most of us almost all of our Social Security checks to meet the "donut hole in it" before getting any real benefit. Dick Baker Too many people with closed minds in this country...If you will keep on writing maybe some of them will open up. This country needs more columns like yours and more people to read them and then maybe we could get the message to congress and get some (good) changes made. Please keep up the good work I enjoy it and it keeps me thinking. Don Barrett The government goes after the crack dealers and lets the drug industry rob the public. These drug companies really make me sick (no pun intended). John King After reading your article regarding how greedy Pfizer is, I decided to call the number for Pfizer that you had at the end of your article. I already know about how all of the pharmaceutical companies are as I work as the information & referral person for the Macomb County Dept. of Senior Citizen Services in Michigan. I get calls all day from seniors who cannot afford their medications. We have some programs, but for the most part they are not eligible for them because the income limit is so low. The first person I spoke with told me I was calling the wrong number and that he would transfer me. He transferred me to another woman who then transferred me to yet another woman who said she was a pharmacist who works with Lipitor. It was exasperating! I told her why I was calling and she said she would forward my complaint to the appropriate person. I don't feel that it will end up on the right persons desk but I at least I tried. Here's a site that you might want to include on your Suddenly Senior page. Or not. It's a pretty strong letter to Congress re: the Medicare disaster. Thanks for your viewpoints. Forrest Landry HOW WASHINGTON SOLVED THE "MEDICARE PROBLEM" - Letters You are full of B-LL. Get your facts straight before mouthing off. Three million lost jobs my A-s. Unemployment down from 6.5% to 5.6% and don't start telling me about all the folks not looking. That's not true either. If you want folks to read, you gotta get honest! H C Puckett Excellent job Frank. Keep 'em coming. Someday people might actually see these liars for what they are. Michael Dougherty I think it's time to ask you to take my name off your mailing list. I am up to here with hate politics. I enjoy your column when you stick to humor and life, but I've had it with President bashing regardless of its source. Thanks. Steve Harvey Right on, Brother, keep up the good work. I recently found your web site and have sent it to my friends. I totally agree with you. Thanks for pointing this stuff out to us. I had my social security reduced and have to pay back almost 3,000 bucks. Last year the way SSI is figured was changed and now a woman's SSI is based on her own work record and not on her husband's. I went from $783. to $506. That is a kick in the teeth let me tell you. When I queried this the gal at the SSI office said " that's because she never worked"! Makes about as much sense as anything else done by government entities these days. Somehow my widow's benefit went AWOL too! Sylvia R. Chesser A very good article. Keep them coming. America needs to know. Thank you very much for being on my side. Don It seems that Pfizer provides drugs for $15 per perscription for low income seniors not on medicaid. It would seem the other major drug companies would have similar programs. Could you send me the info if I am correct. Dan Mallaro Go to http://www.suddenlysenior.com/drugcheapfree2004.html We just received a three month supply of inhalers from our Canadian pharmacy. All are made in Canada by GlaxoSmithKline, Inc. Our US price would have been $920.00. We paid $633.00. Adds up to savings over $1,100.00 a year. Glaxo is one of the main drug making evildoers trying to block importation from Canada. I only hope they will reconsider their policy, that will affect thousands of US citizens with allergies and lung diseases. Our current administration and the Republican Food and Drug Administration has the power to assure reasonable prices for medicine in our own country. A Registered Republican I have enjoyed your senior web page, however I assume to keep it enjoyable you should try to keep politics out of your humor. I find this web page wholly unacceptable and totally obnoxious. If you continue this type of web site action I shall withdraw my registration from LePharmacy and tell them why and put the reasons on the Internet for all to enjoy. Keep it clean. Bud Rose I hear all this talk about getting the feds to let us import drugs from Canada cause it would be cheaper. Has the thought ever occured to anyone that if the U. S. wouid invoke "Price Controls" on the drug companies like Canada and other countries have, we wouldn't have to pay the high price for drugs and wouldn't have to import from any country. Duhhhhhhhh. Maybe Bush and his partners in crime might not be happy with the thought of losing the big donations they get from the drug companies . The same damn thing happened when they took controls off of gas prices and utilities, and everybody in the country is suffering for it. Russ I still want to know how our high paid politicians would survive on fixed income such as most of our seniors, $615.00 a month. Then they screw us by not wanting to cover certain meds that actually help to keep us alive. They allow us the privilege of food stamps, but forget that toilet paper is just as essential. This whole system needs to be revamped so that us poor seniors can still live a little and not just merely exist. Once again, I claim that this is the governments' LEGAL way of getting RID OF UNPRODUCTIVE SENIORS. Our president has forgotten where home is, while he keeps sending the benefits we have worked so hard for all our lives overseas. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG. Jackie I have always felt the Republicans will not rest until both these programs are gone. They have always fought anything and everything about them. What I can't understand is why the average "Joe's" in this country are too dumb to figure that out and still think all we have to do is stick another flag on our SUV and all will be well! Ardy Hurst I just subscribed to newsletter after my son sent me the jokes. I love laughing but I dislike being bombarded with political dribble from all sides! I certainly consider myself a well informed voter & do my own research on what is going on before I cast my vote! Yet it seems that the media & everyone else that has their opinions want to start their yammering months before the election! In other words, is there a way I could only receive the entertaining stuff W/O having to clutter my email with political agendas. Karen Rodenbach Bravo, Frank. Let's keep the heat on. Marika Stone, www.2young2retire.com. Reinventing Retirement News There is nothing more annoying to me than whiney seniors. I suppose it is because they have nothing better to do. I too am a senior and am ashamed of my peers. Sure there are a few seniors that have financial problems as there are young families with financial problems, but my response to the constant carping is, guilt your begging and take care of yourself. In my little county in northwest Illinois the government agencies that have programs for seniors are actually competing for constituents. Illinois has steadily moved to the political left as has Whiteside County. I fear for capitalism, freedom, self-reliance, accountability and pride. My generation has planted the seeds of socialism and I am ashamed. Myron Hofmeister Either we get them out at the voting booth, that's if this no receipt or records voting machines are not hacked, giving the election to this administration again. or, and I say and have been saying IMPEACHMENT. Do you know what would happen to us if we did any one of the misleading things this administration has done. we would be in jail. Dee More times than not, you are my hero! Thanks for turning on the light. Your columns about health care, jobs moving overseas, the budget and the current administration has made me re-think George W. I now believe he must go in November. I sent some money to the Kerry campaign and under occupation I put "Suddenly Senior." Bageldaddy in Michigan If all you can do is criticize what's the use of writing. Just remember what this president inherited. Eight years of do nothing and let things get in the same that it takes all this now to correct. "If you can not say something good or encouraging then don't say anything. F. Powell Way to go Frank, what a great article. My wife and I just loved it! I've also made copies for several friends of ours. Thanks so much for your artful display of how the Bushies' work (not for us though) John and Debbie Reid Regarding rejecting tax cuts for the rich.......many times, it is the same old saw of punishing the affluent for their productivity and thrift. Most affluent people are very big contributors and donators of endless worthy causes too. Anne Glad to hear you can see thru the republicans BS Goldie Mazaika All your columns are good, but this one is GREAT! You are able to verbalize what so many of us are thinking. What puzzles me is that there appears to be a vast number of people who recognize the problem, but, instead of solutions, the mess just gets messier. Oh for someone who has the clout and intelligence to actually do something for the "common man", and stop pandering to all the "fat cats." Keep up your good work. Ann The reason that many bills through congress do not support the Retired is that there is no organized voting block of the retired to force the president or congress to acknowledge this voting group and to feel their RATH. I would like to some one to give your followers direct instructions such as email or letters directly to the president or congressional members to let them know they will lose votes in there Elections if they don't support the RETIRED. Yes, we plan to do just that. Thanks for the idea, Tak. I love your analysis of current administration modus operandi -- create fear and offer a safety blanket. The Iraq situation was more of the same -- create a bogeyman and be a hero by bringing him in dead or alive, cowboy style. (Diverting resources from the real terrorist pursuit) The timing of the certain capture of outlaw Bin Laden will be perfectly timed for the November vote. Privatizing SS and damaging Medicare as in your article is sure to increase the masses of the poor non-healthcare covered. BUT then again a hero will emerge with a safety parachute and make himself look good. It is sickening to see the way the fat cats get fatter in the ways they operate. Steve Johnson If the "improvements" in medicare were in place 30 years ago, my loving wife would have been neglected to death 25 years sooner! Of course when "the system" fails from under funding and over work, it's the fault of the lowest on the chain of command for failing to work 32 hours a day, and not our representatives in government who refuse to provide the financing to do the job. As I see it, the poor are expendable because we can always import more. I worry about what will happen to my Grand children when China forecloses on our debt. Garry Spencer FOR MORE LETTERS, CLICK HERE |
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After reading about you Dad's brief affair, I had to send you this picture of my "toy." It's a '54 Chev. panel truck, with the caddie tail lights built into the rear fenders! It has a new 350 engine, 300 HP, power steering and brakes, tilt wheel, completely upholstered interior, etc. I recently sold it on the Internet after 15 years of fun and investing in it! Bob Weiser
Has anyone given consideration to having a few million bumper stickers or window decals. with that "Don't Get Sick " explanation of our National Health Plan? It might help to get someone's attention if they started popping up all over the country, in places besides South Florida and Sun Cities, AZ. Ed. Lee