The high cost of prescription drugs, particularly for senior citizens, is a hot issue this election year. Clearly, if Medicare were being enacted now, it would have a drug benefit.
Seniors account for one-third of all prescribed medications.
Over 85 percent use at least one daily prescription. Yet most have inadequate drug coverage or none at all. But employers, citing rising prices, continually raise retirees' co-payments and the number of employers providing coverage has dropped significantly. Along with millions of other Medicare participants, they buy insurance or pay drug costs themselves. Due to these and other drawbacks, HMOs and Medigap together cover only 15 percent of seniors for drugs.