Although the Bush administration boasts about the new prescription drug benefit that will be available in two years, it’s the drug companies that are really getting the benefit, not the seniors, whose limited income deeply affects their ability to maintain their prescription drug therapies.

One provision of this bad legislation prohibits the sale of any new Medigap policy that would help an individual pay for prescription medications after Jan. 1, 2006, when the new Medicare becomes available.

A pre-existing policy with drug benefits could be renewed, but only if the person chooses to enroll in the new Medicare drug benefit.

Stated another way, a person who enrolls in this new Medicare could not buy or renew a Medigap policy to help cover prescription medication costs.

Watch the publicity over the next months as consumer education is geared up to help individuals learn what their prescription payment options really will be and how the financial effect of those choices will guide Medicare enrollees to the decision that is affordable for each individual. And will the choice still be heat, food or medication?

Margaret Ross, Lewiston

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