CBS19 News

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Senator Tim Kaine, who is a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, participated in a roundtable discussion with Jefferson Area Board for Aging in Charlottesville to address the issue of prescription drug costs and healthcare with local seniors and health care providers.

"Overwhelmingly, what I hear is, 'Thanks for the reduction in prescription drug prices, but it's still too complicated,'" said Kaine.

The rise of predatory marketing practices was also a theme at today's roundtable discussion.

"Right now, we see a lot of marketing from particular insurance companies, pushing products in Medicare that may not be the best product for the beneficiary," said Randy Rodgers, the manager of insurance counseling with JABA. WATCH

29News

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - U.S. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine held a roundtable on Friday, June 21, to discuss senior prescription drug costs and healthcare in Charlottesville.

The Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) held the roundtable.

Kaine arrived eager to answer people’s questions and address their concerns. People thanked the senator for making Medicare easier to understand and work through.

“We’re negotiating for prices on a whole bunch of other drugs for the first time under Medicare, the first 10 drugs will start to show dramatic savings for people in 2026,” said Virginia Senator Tim Kaine at a roundtable discussion at JABA. “These 10 drugs account for 20% of all the spending for pharmaceuticals under Medicare, so we pick the ones that are the most used.”

The roundtable also served as an opportunity for others to bring up issues that aren’t often talked about, like predatory market practices.

“Medicare Advantage is another way of providing insurance. There’s a lot of disinformation or less information. That’s why it’s really important to come to JABA when you’re going to get started in Medicare,” CEO of JABA Marta Keane said, “So that you understand from an unbiased, non-paid professional, what the advantages and disadvantages are of being on Medicare.” WATCH