Local Medicare Recipient Talks Debt Debate

One of the largest government programs that could be cut during the national debt debates is benefits to Medicare and Social Security.

According to the AARP, Idahoans who receive Medicare benefits still spend 30 percent of their income on out of pocket health care costs.

Donna West, 67, of Idaho Falls has been on Medicare for two years. She said that with having multiple health issues, she can’t imagine what she would do without her current benefits.

“I have a couple of chronic more expensive problems. I have asthma. Medications for asthma are very very expensive,” said West.

West admits that she is financially better off than a lot of people who are on Medicare.

“Many people depend on medicare as their only medicare coverage, so to speak. I am a little more lucky because I have the supplemental to go with it,” said West.

According to the AARP, in Bonneville County there are 15,335 people who rely on Social Security, and 13,278 depend on medicare.

Mike Merrill has owned Mike’s Pharmacy for 26 years. Merrill said that he dreads telling customers their prescriptions are no longer covered.

“We feel terrible because it comes down to if I should stay in business or do I give away medicine,” said Merrill.