`IT'S A CRYING SHAME' SENIORS STRUGGLE WITH HEALTH CARE COST HIKES.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Larry and Anita Epstein, like many retired couples, live on a fixed income and depend on their Social Security checks to make ends meet.

They're also among thousands of local seniors facing steep increases in the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs.

The Epsteins, who are part of Facey Medical Group - the largest health care provider in the Santa Clarita Valley - will each have to pay $25 more a month to continue to see the doctors and specialists that they have come to rely on over the past decade.

``It's a crying shame and very scary,'' Larry Epstein said. ``Every dollar is crucial for us, and we didn't plan for this much of an increase.''

The Epsteins aren't alone. More than half of all retirees will face rising co-payments and premiums over the next three years, and a quarter might lose their health insurance entirely, according to a new survey.

``Current retirees are being asked to pay more for their health care coverage across the board,'' said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which conducted the survey along with the consulting firm Hewitt Associates.

Brad Behrens, director of the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, said many senior citizens are worried about coping with rising health care costs on a fixed income.

``The whole thing is ludicrous,'' Behrens said. ``They nip everywhere they can, and it's still not enough.''

The Epsteins' problems reached a boiling point last month when Anita exhausted her health plan's prescription drug benefit, and she couldn't afford the anti-cholesterol pills she takes for her heart. Since then, she's done without - although she takes nine other prescriptions every day.

``Our neighbors have the same problems, and no one knows what to do,'' Anita Epstein said.

A recent Institute of Medicine report warned that the nation is on the verge of a crisis as private health insurance costs are increasing at a rate of more than 12 percent a year, with individuals paying more out of pocket and receiving fewer benefits.

The Epsteins could avoid paying the additional $50 a month on top of the $100 they already plan - but the couple would have to travel to the San Fernando Valley to see a doctor, according to the letter they received from Facey.

``That doesn't make any sense to us,'' Epstein said.

However, Facey Medical Group President Bill Gill said it is more expensive to provide health care in the Santa Clarita Valley - much like gasoline can cost as much as a dime more in Valencia than in North Hollywood.

``This is part of a nationwide trend,'' Gill said. ``The federal government is simply not paying insurance companies enough to provide coverage for retirees.''

While Facey does not set prices for doctor visits, it contracts with health care plans that do, Gill said.

``This problem isn't going to be resolved until the federal government starts keeping pace with the rising cost of health care,'' Gill said.

In the meantime, the Epsteins will pay the additional $50 a month - and look for a new, cheaper health care plan.

``Why should we have to lose our doctors that we're comfortable with?'' Larry Epstein said. ``It'll be tough on our budget, but what else can we do?''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Anita and Larry Epstein, at home in Friendly Valley, are seniors on a fixed income trying to pay the rising costs of medicine.

(2 -- color) Anita Epstein parcels out her medications for the week - minus her cholesterol-controlling pills, which she can no longer afford.

(3) Anita and Larry Epstein say they'll pay the increased cost of their current medical plan while looking for a cheaper one.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer