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At the end of 2003, Congress enacted a new law to help pay for your medications through the Medicare program. You may have already started to see savings by signing up for a prescription drug discount card. While you can still sign up for and use the discount drug cards, the card will expire at the end of 2005, after which the new comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit takes its place.
This new benefit, which officially begins on January 1, 2006, is voluntary. If you are satisfied with your current coverage, you do not need to change anything. But, if you do not already have prescription drug coverage, or if you are looking for better coverage, the new benefit is worth considering. Everyone who is on Medicare is eligible for the benefit, regardless of income. Extra help will be available for those with limited incomes, and a choice of plans will be given so you can pick the one that best meets your specific health care needs.
It is estimated that more than 117,000 people in southeastern Arizona are Medicare beneficiaries, and they can benefit from this new prescription drug plan.
Medicare prescription drug coverage can help you by covering both brand name and generic prescription drugs at participating pharmacies close to where you live. I hope you will take a moment to read about the new benefit, talk it over with your family and physician, and consider how it could help you pay for your prescription drugs.
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