But since then, the number of drugs available has risen dramatically and so have the costs. President Clinton and others have now proposed adding prescription drug coverage. As Congress considers what to do, many seniors find themselves in a bind. HealthWeek's Nancy Olson has one woman's story. When Marie Murray and her bridge group get together every week, the conversation often turns to health care and the cost of medications.
Emotions can run high.
In a country as rich as ours, people shouldn't have to make a choice between food and their prescription drugs. Like many seniors, Marie takes more than a half dozen medications. Sometimes the last week of the month, I practically live on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She's tried to get financial aid, only to be told that she's poor, but not poor enough. They call us people who fall through the cracks.