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Contact:
Jesse Jacobs For
Immediate Release SARBANES URGES EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD) recently joined his colleagues in urging Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to bring legislation to the floor of the United States Senate that would extend the deadline date for enrollment in the new Medicare prescription drug program from May 15, 2006 to the end of 2006. In their April 19, 2006 letter to Senator Frist, the Senators wrote: “Medicare beneficiaries face a number of prescription drug plan options, and choosing the right plan can be a challenge. Each of the options differs in terms of premiums, cost-sharing requirements, drugs covered and pharmacy access. Sorting through these plans has proven to be difficult and time consuming. Further complicating matters, the Medicare drug program is experiencing a variety of implementation problems that have disproportionately affected the most vulnerable beneficiaries. “Yet, beneficiaries who do not act by the May 15, 2006, deadline and who enroll at a later date will face a financial penalty. Seniors who choose a plan after May 15, 2006, will be penalized by a one percent increase in their premium for each month they delay their choice. “By extending the enrollment deadline and delaying late enrollment penalties, we can make sure that our constituents are not forced to make hasty decisions about their health care. The stakes here are too high to deny seniors the time and resources they need to make an informed decision. “We all share the goal of ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries have sufficient time and assistance to make a wise decision regarding prescription drug coverage. Extending the deadline for the new program is a small but important step that will help ease the transition to this new program. We urge you, as the Senate Majority Leader, to bring legislation extending the Medicare prescription deadline to the Senate floor as soon as possible.” ### |
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