Budget proposal causes real harm to senior neighbors
To the editor:
Part AAA of Governor LePage’s budget changes the income criteria for eligibility for a critical program for the elderly and disabled called “Medicare Buy-in”.
The proposed change will devastate some older people by eliminating entirely the prescription drug assistance they now receive. It also hurts financially by requiring them to pay $115.50 monthly from their fixed Social Security pension for Medicare Part B as well as pay $180 to $200 monthly for a Medicare supplemental insurance. These people are already low-income, old and have no ability to return to work or otherwise make up the 25 to 33 percent reduction in their income.
The governor has proposed no savings to the Maine taxpayer in this budget provision. The savings of cutting poor old people shows on page A-273 of the Governor’s budget — $7,852,950 in 2012 and $7,852,950 in 2013. This savings in the DEL (Drugs for the Elderly) program transfers the money to “Provider Payments” and is intended to help cover MaineCare debt to hospitals and offset future increases to hospitals. Cutting prescription drugs to the old to send the money to hospitals is not fair nor is it right.
This is not a complicated issue. Some old people who are able to “get by” with the Medicare Buy-in benefit will be made destitute and that is not an exaggeration. Transferring this money produces no savings to the state and causes harm to some elderly people. You can help stop it from happening. Contact your legislator and tell them to not support Medicare Buy-in cuts.
Stephen Farnham,
executive director
Aroostook Agency on Aging
