Friday,
May 12, 2006
Medicare
Prescription Drug Deadline Coming Up Fast
Knollenberg
Encourages Seniors to Sign Up by Monday,
May 15
WASHINGTON
,
D.C.
– With the
deadline for the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan fast
approaching, Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R/MI-09) has issued
a statement to urge eligible seniors to make a decision on the
plan by the 15th.
“Approximately 5 million out of 42
million eligible seniors have yet to make a decision on the
Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. I strongly encourage
those seniors to take a close look at their options and make a
decision on the by the deadline on Monday the 15th
.
“To help encourage these seniors to
make a decision, I joined my colleagues in the House yesterday
to pass H. Res. 802, which encourages “all eligible Medicare
beneficiaries who have not yet elected to enroll in the new
Medicare Part D benefit to review the available options and to
determine whether enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug
plan best meets their current and future needs for
prescription drug coverage.
“Before this benefit was available,
millions of seniors across the country had absolutely no
access to prescription drugs because of high costs and lack of
insurance. For the millions of seniors without prescription
drug coverage, this new benefit has given them the helping
hand they desperately needed.
For those with coverage, this benefit greatly expands
their choices. And, this program is entirely optional - those
that are happy with their current coverage or who simply do
not want it are not required to participate.
“There are resources available to help seniors make the best choice. I
urge all seniors in my district to take a close look at the
program, seek assistance if needed, and make a decision by the
15th,” Knollenberg said.
The
new Medicare prescription drug benefit will help tens of
millions of seniors pay for their medicines. As of today, over
30 million seniors have signed up for the Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Plan. The average senior will see their
prescription drug bills drop by almost 50 percent. Low-income
seniors, who need help the most, will have 95 percent of their
prescription drug costs paid for by Medicare.
Seniors
who do not sign up by the 15th but decide later
that they want to participate may receive a penalty, however,
they will not be subject to a penalty if they have maintained
"creditable" drug coverage through another source,
which includes retiree health coverage offered by a former
employer or union.
For more
information or for assistance on deciding on a plan, please
call 1-800-MEDICARE, or call the Office of Congressman
Joe Knollenberg at 248-851-1366. You can also contact the
Michigan Medicare Assistance Program at 1-800-803-7174 to
reach a MMAP volunteer counselor within your community.
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