Close costly loophole in Medicare Part D

You would think paying for a plan to cover basic health needs would do just that — cover your health care needs. Unfortunately, Medicare beneficiaries still end up paying significantly out of their own pockets to cover the annual cost of their medicines. According to a Medicare trustees annual report from 2017, more than 87% of Part D prescriptions are generic. A smaller percentage covers specialty drugs to help patients with more complex conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Hepatitis C and more. No matter what medicines a person needs for their best health, the health plan they choose should cover the costs.

Thanks to a loophole in the Medicare Part D benefit, senior citizens and people with disabilities can be on the hook for thousands of dollars. This is in addition to the price they already pay for a plan that is supposed to cover their prescription drug needs. It’s important to keep in mind that Medicare Part D is the only coverage that does not cap out-of-pocket costs for patients.

This month, the Senate Finance Committee members will finish their work on drug pricing legislation that addresses Medicare costs for seniors. Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown are on this committee, and we urge their support to close the loophole and cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors in Medicare Part D.

Steven Piehler, Columbus

Oberlin has responsibility for its students' actions

I respond to the Wednesday op-ed "Judgment against Oberlin College threatens free speech" from Carmen Twillie Ambar, who is president of Oberlin, the college, not the student body. Oberlin students, in the presence of a college administrator, protested as racist the fact that the store went after two student thieves — who happened to be black — for shoplifting wine.

As the proud father of an Oberlin student who

Jerome Schindler, Columbus