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Parties court grey vote with prescription
promises
The St. Paul de Kent resident pays about $3,500 a year for drugs for himself and his wife, who suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and thyroid problems. The couple pays more than $2,500 a year for the government-sponsored, privately run drug plan, plus a $15 fee for each prescription filled. Henri says they can't afford the amount they have to pay, and neither can other seniors who qualify for New Brunswick's pharmacare plan for seniors. He wants the province to abandon its contract with Blue Cross and create a government-run prescription drug program specifically for seniors.
"That would eliminate the profit part of it," he says. "The insurance companies are ripping us off. They are just taking our money. At least, if the government was in charge, they wouldn't have to make a profit from us." A decade ago, Henri's drug woes wouldn't have made a blip on the political radar screen. But now, as New Brunswick's aging population transforms into a powerful voting block, the politicians are finally beginning to listen. The parties are each tailoring their platforms to deal with seniors' concerns, which include everything from the high cost of prescription drugs and auto insurance to the state of the province's nursing homes, some of which are more than a century old. Moncton senior Peggy Humby is taking a close look at what each party is offering. She says people over 65 have enormous power in this election, and it's time for them to seize it. "I think the time has come when we seniors have to get active. Pretty soon half the people in New Brunswick will be seniors. We have to get the grey hair out from under our caps and get what we want into legislation." So what are the parties promising for seniors in this election? The Progressive Conservatives used a crumbling nursing home as their backdrop for a pledge to renovate or replace 10 nursing homes in the Saint John area. Bernard Lord has also promised to spend another $15 million on the existing prescription drug program, to help deal with catastrophic drug costs for seniors and low-income families. Lord pointed out how his government has helped seniors during their four years in power, investing $50 million in the drug plan and making 100 new drugs - including two for arthritis - eligible for coverage. "Our seniors deserve to live with respect and dignity. They have worked hard over the years to help build this province," Lord said.
Calling their platform "Standing up for Seniors" the Liberals have outlined a long list of promises designed to appeal to the grey vote: a Department of Seniors to look after nursing homes and prescription drugs; a seniors' advocate reporting to the legislature; a network of Seniors' Advisory Bureaus; training opportunities for New Brunswickers over 50; and a promise to raise the ceiling on income eligibility for seniors benefiting from the prescription drug program. NDP Leader Elizabeth Weir is promising simply to end the provincial contract with Blue Cross and create a government-run drug plan for seniors. She says the Blue Cross plan is among the most expensive in the country, and most seniors can't afford it. "The gouging of New Brunswick seniors by Blue Cross is shameful bad management by the Lord government," Weir says. Wally Lyrette, of the 4,000 member Francophone Seniors' Association has been pushing for a public drug program for years, and likes what he hears from the NDP camp. He says the $15-million promise from Bernard Lord will help some people, but it's not enough because it won't deal with the high premiums or the prescription fees. "Seniors take more medication than others, generally, so it can add up to a few hundred dollars a year. For people on a fixed income, that can be awful," he says, noting that he pays $1,500 a year for prescription drugs. "Blue Cross is there to make a profit, while the government is not, so the government can do it cheaper." Like Lyrette, Henri favours the NDP proposal, and even though he's never voted for the party before, he says he's considering it this time: "They are giving us a tempting offer." LNKS: |
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