Medicare capped for Puerto Ricans....

[Leticia_g]

Medicare capped for Puerto Ricans....

While millions of Americans watched closely the debate on the recently passed Medicare bill, 4 million Americans were waiting to see how they would fare at the end of it all. And sure enough, 4 million American citizens from Puerto Rico were once again capped and treated as more of an afterthought, than as full fledge American citizen.

The bill will give 550,000 seniors and disabled in Puerto Rico help in paying for prescription drugs, but gives the island's elderly poor much less relief than their counterparts in the states. Puerto Rico stands to get $28 million in 2006 and $37 million in 2007, out of a $395 billion 10 year package. The deal insufficiently meets the need of 4 million American citizens in Puerto Rico.