Medicare should cover cost of coronavirus vaccine, Schumer says
Source: NY Post
Sen. Chuck Schumer called on Sunday for the coronavirus vaccine currently in the works to be fully covered by Medicare and made available to senior citizens as part of the upcoming federal legislation to fight what is possibly becoming a global pandemic.
The novel coronavirus shows us its critical to make vaccines available to susceptible groups quickly. The more you dither, the more people delay, the more people say I dont know if Ill be able to come up with the money the greater the danger of the coronavirus spreading. Schumer said.
Vaccinating seniors will help deter the spread of the virus among the rest of the population, Schumer said, adding that the elderly shouldnt have to make the choice between shelling out and going without.
I think all vaccines should be covered by Medicare because they save the overall health system money. But thats a bigger and longer fight, Schumer said during a press conference at his Manhattan office on 3rd Avenue. To have this vaccine covered needs to be done immediately.
The White House asked Congress for $2.5 billion for its effort to stem the spread of the virus and treat people who may become infected, while Schumer proposed allocating $8.5 billion.
The senator said the emergency spending bill could be unveiled as early as Monday or Tuesday, and hopes that it will pass the House and Senate within the next two weeks.
Read more: https://nypost.com/2020/03/01/medicare-should-cover-cost-of-coronavirus-vaccine-schumer-says/
dweller
(23,634 posts)will do with
that bill?
Grim Reaper that he is...
🤔
✌🏼
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)CatWoman
(79,302 posts)and I don't recall Trump admin saying Shingles vaccine won't be available to all income levels either
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)But vaccines should be all readily and cheaply available.
Bengus81
(6,931 posts)There were days I wished I was DEAD. Go ask anyone who's had a full blown severe case of shingles and see what they say.
progree
(10,908 posts)Medicare coverage for Shingrix and Zostavax, the two commercially available shingles vaccines, is provided only if you are enrolled in a stand-alone Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D drug coverage.
Medicare requires Part D plans to cover the shingles vaccine, so if youre enrolled in Part D, you shouldnt have difficulty obtaining the shot. Most require a copayment, which can vary widely from plan to plan.
Everybody in Medicare should get Part D, either directly or as part of a Medicare Advantage Plan (most of which include Part D). Drug costs are just too big to face alone.
And people should be aware that putting off getting Part D until one needs it is not a money saver -- the late enrollment penalty adder (which is added to one's Part D premiums every month for life) sums up to more over one's life expectancy than the cost of a part D plan during the early years when one might not need it, at least in my case.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)progree
(10,908 posts)covered, then something got screwed up.
Anyway its important that people who have Medicare Part D know that it is covered (though like AARP article says, there usually is a copayment that varies widely from plan to plan). Not having a Part D plan is like being a riverboat gambler, considering the wildly high and rapidly inflating cost of drugs.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,190 posts)didn't cover it last year. I'm on a Humana plan this year and I haven't checked if it covers it yet.
progree
(10,908 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,190 posts)Copays are free to $10.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)My Husband had Anthem Blue Shield and his was covered.
So much for AARP. I have to pay $250 if I want it.
klook
(12,155 posts)Maybe even The Grim Reaper will see the wisdom of this, in an election year that is.
SunSeeker
(51,559 posts)Ponietz
(2,972 posts)Without this measure the costs to Medicare will be astronomical.
Our for-profit health care industry sees a growth opportunity here.
lostnfound
(16,179 posts)Defend the dang country already.
And if nothing is done with vaccines for ALL, insurance companies will be going bankrupt over extended ICU visits for their insured patients.
duforsure
(11,885 posts)From orders from trump to use it as a weapon to hurt people with it like trump does with everything else . That's why they politicize it then claim that's what Democrats are doing, to project against the Democrats , and to con their supporters with it, and lying to the American people. If its contained like trump claimed why do they have to do anything else now, lol. Because he lied again. Way to go Brownie.
Vinca
(50,273 posts)moriah
(8,311 posts).... and given community spread in one large city already, is not likely to be available by the time it's needed?
Recent research has shown a specific genetic difference between the virus that causes this disease and the virus that causes SARS -- explaining both why it is more infectious, AND giving a treatment mechanism for the viral pneumonia it can cause.
Which means right now Kaletra (lopinavir and ritonavir) is being repurposed right now, because it's a combination, available, and being donated by a pharmaceutical company hoping to prove the drug works on the viral pneumonias.
We need to figure out which ones do work, if any, in a far more controlled manner, AND we need to ensure the ones that do work are not subject to price-gouging in order to treat patients who develop a viral pneumonia after being exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
----
Oh, and test kits. Please, test kits.
area51
(11,909 posts)especially since it's going to be developed with our tax dollars, just like all the other drugs.