Robert Hayes
Robert Hayes
abysmal benefit consumers designed impossible numbers suggest understand
The (poll) numbers suggest an abysmal program. This benefit was designed to make it impossible for consumers to understand it.
bush deception disabled disguises help inflation numbers older plague problems
The Bush Administration's inflation of enrollment numbers disguises the problems that plague this privately-administered benefit. Deception will do nothing to help older and disabled get the medications they so desperately need.
consumers federal good government leadership reality secretary
The secretary is confronting reality finally, and that is a good thing. We all know consumers were confused, but we had no sense the leadership in the federal government was so confused.
buy couch hear people response
The response has been tremendous. People hear it once, and they get up off the couch to buy the album.
benefit complexity confronted confused hands people throw
There's so much complexity that in a sense the people confused by the benefit are the ones who are the most knowledgeable on Medicare. And for sure, there will be many people who will be confronted with the complexity and, sadly, they will throw their hands up and give up.
along somewhere turned
Somewhere along the line, something turned nasty, and I don't know what it was.
kindness reliable resource
At this point, the only reliable resource is the kindness of friends and strangers.
cases literally office
There's literally hundreds of cases like just this in our office, right now.
afford ball crystal guarantees healthy next signing unless
Unless you have a crystal ball that guarantees you'll be healthy for the next year, you're better off signing up if you can afford it.
accept cut medicare physicians small virtually
Virtually all physicians - even with a small cut in payments - will still accept Medicare patients.
achieved compares eligible medicare million nearly originally people period program rate signed voluntary
Nearly 20 million of the 21 million people already had drug coverage. The voluntary enrollment rate compares miserably with the rate achieved in the 11-month period when Medicare was originally launched in 1966. Nearly all eligible Americans signed up for the program back then.
almost maintain medicare needed pays service target
Medicare is almost always on target and pays what it should. It should pay as much as needed to maintain service -- and no more.
array complex convoluted faced great help indictment insurance people plans seen staying unreliable
We see it as a searing indictment of this convoluted drug program. People are faced with a bewildering array of for-profit insurance plans. These plans are seen as so complex and unreliable that many people in great need of help are staying on the sidelines.
group poorest
It's the neediest, oldest, sickest, poorest group of folks,