However, to receive coverage under Part B, monthly premiums must be paid, beginning at age 65. However, as virtually every senior citizen knows, Medicare does not cover all medical costs. Many take out supplemental insurance often referred to as Medigap or join health maintenance organizations to help cover the costs of exclusions, deductibles and co-payments. But even with supplemental programs, pharmaceuticals often aren't covered. Currently, about 15 million Medicare beneficiaries have no drug coverage at all.
Prescription drugs are among the big costs of health care.
The policy challenge is to shore up the current program, while giving consideration to adding pharmaceuticals to the benefits list. In the hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 15 years. Prospects are enhanced by projected annual federal budget surpluses. Now, if only there was no competition for those dollars from advocates of Social Security reform, tax cuts and debt reduction. All rights reserved.