Pharmaceuticals for the Elderly

I recently read an article on the New York State Department of Health website pertaining to the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC). EPIC is New York State sponsored prescription plan for senior citizens who need help paying for their prescriptions. Over 360,000 seniors already belong and are saving, on average, over 80% of the cost of their medicine.

Years ago, as a young adult in college and so many others of my friends (being dropped from our parents health insurance at the age of 18), have experienced being without basic health insurance coverage, due to the high cost to obtain and maintain. Despite so many years have come and gone, there is still not enough resources allocated for young adults in this complex society, only for individuals <18>65. I think that rationing health care for the elderly might become necessary to eliminate those restrictions on health care for other groups, but would encourage conflict between generations.

In the past few years, an increasingly large share of health care is going to the elderly vs. young adult. For example the federal government spends six time as much providing health benefits and other social services to those >65 as it does to those over 18. In addition to wasteful spending of hundreds of millions on an inflated defense budget.

I think government has the social obligation and responsiblity to help the elderly live out a natural life span but not to help medically extend life beyond that point. A government system based on the above would immediately create a balance in medical care benefits for the other neglected generation.