The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 85% of adults older than 65 are suffering from at least one chronic condition or disease. Seniors are also prescribed more medication than any other age group, with 90% of seniors taking at least one prescription and 36% of senior citizens prescribed at least five daily medications.
A Healthcare Value Hub survey published in the last few years showed 27% of Illinois adults have rationed their medication by skipping a dose or splitting a pill in half or have gone without medication due to the skyrocketing cost of prescription medication.
In fact, in December, President Joe Biden announced that pharmaceutical companies raised the prices of dozens of prescription drugs faster than inflation (and it wasn’t the first year we have seen this happen). In 2022 and in 2023, there were increases in more than 1,400 medications. This year, in January alone, more than 900 branded drugs have seen price increases. Due to this outrageous price gouging, these companies are being forced to pay rebates to Medicare for medications that more than three-quarters of a million seniors across the county took in 2023.
The pharmaceutical industry putting profits over people must come to an end. This is why the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans supports Illinois House Bill 4472 and the establishment of a prescription drug affordability board, or PDAB. The PDAB would be an independent body that would have the authority to evaluate high-cost prescription drugs and set upper payment limits on what state residents would pay. Setting upper payment limits, which would apply to the entire supply chain, is not a new concept — the state of Illinois already enacts similar policy over utilities and insurance premiums.
Worry about medication affordability isn’t contained to party lines. Across the board, no matter the party affiliation, Illinoisans support bringing costs for medications down for everyone.
Illinois legislators must continue the fight for health care affordability and resist the Big Pharma opposition to making health care accessible for everyone. Illinois is a leader in the nation in addressing affordable health care, such as capping insulin copays, protecting people with health insurance from unfair premium hikes and banning price gouging of generic and off-patent drugs, but we have more work to do in order to make progress toward affordable and accessible health care for all.
Readers can ask their legislators to take the next step and support H.B. 4472.
— Krystle Able, executive director, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Chicago
Electronic ballot return needed
We are both voters who are blind or visually impaired. We needed to vote by mail this year due to needing to be out of Sangamon County on Election Day for a family funeral. Thanks to legislation passed and signed into law in 2022, we were able to receive, mark and review our ballot independently from the Sangamon County Election Commission.
We both marked and reviewed our ballots, then printed them so they could be mailed back since we have no way to return them electronically. That is not permitted under Illinois election law, despite the fact that more than 30 states, a majority of the country, provide this option for military and overseas voters, voters with print-related disabilities or both.
Because we are blind, we have to trust that our ballots actually printed. We have to be careful and make sure we put the ballot with privacy sleeve in the proper envelope, which is marked so we can sign and date it, then, put that package in the envelope provided for mailing back to the county.
Karyn accidentally put her ballot in the outer mailing envelope, but we were able to get it unsealed so she could put it in the signature envelope, sign and date it, and put the package in the mailing envelope, which we
sealed with tape.
There is absolutely no reason we shouldn’t have electronic ballot return for voters with disabilities in Illinois! State leaders cite supposed safety and security concerns, none of which has happened in the states that allow electronic return. This is despite how much the Democratic Party says it is committed to voter access. It sure as heck doesn’t look like it.
All we want is the same ability to choose the voting option that works for us, whether that is voting by mail, early voting or voting in person on Election Day. We urge all reading this to call Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and their state senator and representative and tell them we need electronic ballot return for voters with disabilities, and we need it now!
Denying us full access to voting by mail violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it makes Democrats look like hypocrites.
— Karyn and Ray Campbell, Springfield
Exhibit delights; opera disappoints
While change and innovation can be nice, there is something comforting about consistency that meets expectations. I went to two events that reminded me of this.
The first was a fun exhibit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum titled “I’ll Have What She’s Having,” which provides a historic perspective on the role of Jewish delis in American life. One of the main takeaways was how the recipes for these family-owned delis were handed down by each generation to the next. The result is that the corned beef sandwich, latke or matzo ball soup you get today tastes just like it did when you went there 20, 30 or even 50 years ago.
The second event was the opening performance of “Aida” at the Lyric Opera. My expectation was not just for beautiful music but also to see the grandeur and spectacle of ancient Egypt, for which this classic opera is known. I do not claim to be an opera expert, but even I could tell from the opening curtain that something was terribly wrong. As several reviewers have noted, the minimalist and modernized costumes and staging were a disaster. For me, it dashed my expectations for a visually delightful experience.
I understand that artistic directors like to innovate, but at least they should let you know in advance, preferably before you buy your ticket, that the recipe has been changed. I was hoping for a nice hot corned beef sandwich piled high on rye, and I got bologna on white bread instead.
— Robert J. Marder, Evanston
Love of reading the newspaper
My husband’s grandmother shared her love of reading the daily newspaper with me, starting with the Chicago Daily News and progressing to the Tribune. For years, I have depended on the Tribune for a balanced view of my world. And I have depended on Raul DeLaVega to deliver that newspaper to me, on time and weather-protective. He even informs me in advance of any delivery changes.
Happily, Raul has never disappointed me by failing to get me my newspaper, even on holidays.
Thank you to Raul.
— MaryAnn Bach, Darien
On time and dry, every day
I still really enjoy reading the physical newspaper at my dining room table each morning while consuming a big bowl of Cheerios. Thank you to my newspaper delivery person of many years, Jose Ocampo, for getting the Tribune to me on time and dry every single day! I appreciate it very much.
— Amy F. Williamson, Chicago
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
