Another screw up from the Feds. On the backs of the elderly and sick

They should be so proud.

Here's what the new medicare plan is doing to my state, as reported by our local paper.

And a local reaction here.

Some highlights of people getting screwed:

Many of these low-income patients were asked to pay hundreds of dollars in premiums or deductibles that a special federal subsidy was supposed to eliminate.

Some patients who were listed on the pharmacy's computers were told their plan didn't cover the drugs they were taking. Even if the plans did cover their drugs, many beneficiaries were asked to pay co-payments of $1 to $5 per prescription.
Their co-payments, multiplied by the number of drugs most of these patients need, have eaten up their budgets for food and housing.
The problems are pervasive nationwide: Nearly 30 states have set up 30-to 45-day emergency transition plans to make sure patients do not fall through the cracks.

Some of the financial highlights:

Glitches in Medicare's Part D drug plan have forced California to authorize $150 million in emergency drug coverage. The program is expected to cost the state:

$59 million more this fiscal year.

$84 million in 2006-07.

$376 million in 2007-08.

$399 million in 2008-09.

Source: LegislativeAnalyst's Office

These are peoples lives we are talking about here. The sick and the elderly who are having a tough enough time of it as is.
This plan is just another attack on the poor by the Bush administration.
Is there ANYTHING they have ever done that could even remotely be seen as helpful for anyone that is not wealthy??