Medicare Part D probably saved money over the standard Medicare.
Obviously I want the program abolished, but if you’re going to have
Medicare, Part D is smarter then the previous system.

Basically, we got to a point where drugs could, in some cases,
make surgeries unnecessary. So instead of a 20,000 dollar surgery,
a prescription could do the same thing for much less money and much
less trauma to elderly patients. But since Medicare didn’t cover
prescriptions, you had a situation where the sick senior would get
the surgery because of the lower cost from his pocket, thus putting
the taxpayer on the hook for the rest.

Perverse incentives, and all that.