As a Social Security recipient in 2002, I received a total increase of $278. My wife received a total increase of $132 for the year. That gave us a total increase of $410 for 2002. The cost of our Medicare insurance increased $96 for the year ($48 each) which left a net increase of $314. Our supplemental insurance increased $364, which left us with $50 less than we had last year. That doesn’t include the cost of medicine, which is expected to increase by 20% this year.

I have heard and read that drugs can be bought in Canada for 50% of what we pay for them and can be purchased through the mail. If you could tell me how, that would help some on my shortfall and delay for a while the problem of deciding whether to buy food or medicine. — FJH, Harriman, TN

From the editor:
You are not alone. Millions of seniors are feeling the same squeeze as their COLA fails to keep up with their health care costs. You can find two stories that may be of particular interest on the TSCL web site: “Alternative to Canadian Drug Runs” at  http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/100736.asp and “Purchasing Drugs in Canada and Mexico” at http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101202.asp.

I also found an interesting web site that I read about in an abcNEWS.com article entitled “Across-the-Border Bargains” dated March 8, 2002. The web site was started by a Colorado businessman who got the idea to help seniors order prescription drugs from Canada while trying to take care of his mother-in-law. His web site is http://www.canadianmedsusa.com. The site has a great deal of information about getting prescription drugs from Canada. There are free drug quotes.

However, since I am not a lawyer or legal expert, I direct you to information found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) web site which provides some general guidance about what you are currently allowed to bring into the country by mail.

• “Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online: General FAQs” http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/faqs.html#faqs12
• “Importation of Prescription Medicines/Drugs” http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/traveler_alert.htm
• “Purchasing Medications Outside the United States” http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/purchasing_medications.htm
• “Information on the Importation of Drugs” http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/pipinfo.htm

The best advice I can give you is to discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor’s prescription is the first item you will need regardless of how you go about shopping for prescription drugs.

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Related articles to above topic:

• “Senior CPI Shows Social Security COLA Too Low” (Press Release) http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101275.asp
• “Prescription Drugs: Are We Spending Too Much?” http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101602.asp
• “Legislative Update: What Kind of Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit?” http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101593.asp
• “’Unprecedented’ Health Care Increases Predicted for 2003” http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101617.asp  
• Chart — “Is Your COLA Keeping Up With Your Health Care Costs?” http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101697.asp
•  “Fewer Medigap Options Prices Vary Widely” http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101677.asp
• “Drug Provision Important to Many Notch Babies” http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101671.asp
• “How Much Does It Cost to Die? http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101644.asp
  

November 2002