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Press Releases>
Pharmaceutical Strategy Insufficient
Jan 7, 2009 --
A threshold of $42,650 is too low! The Honourable Ron Liepert, Minister of Health and Wellness, recently announced that single seniors with an annual income of less than $21,325 and senior families with an annual combined income of less than $42,650 will not pay for drug coverage. “If the government insists that thresholds must exist, these fall incredibly short of the mark,” says Gordon Voth, President of Seniors United Now (SUN). “The government needs to rethink the threshold cap. Even at an annual income of $60,000, couples are struggling.”
While SUN acknowledges the attempt of the government to make changes to the current system, the system itself is still inappropriate. “In essence, the government has announced a two tier health system for seniors. This system violates the principle of universality of health care,” says Voth. “This is a form of taxation, imbedded in a health program.” The answer is a no cost pharmaceutical plan all for seniors. Income should not be an issue.
Seniors face many stresses on seniors in today’s economy. The cost of maintaining a home in Alberta is rising at an alarming rate. Utility costs and the costs of home maintenance, repair and modification are rising. Rents are increasing. And of course, as seniors’ age, their requirements for pharmaceuticals also increase. Drug costs can be a major cost to seniors and are indeed another stressor in the lives on Alberta seniors. A no cost drug plan would ease the lives of all seniors. It would create a winning situation for all seniors, regardless of income level.
For more information please contact:
Gordon Voth, SUN President
780-449-1816 SUN - Office
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