brown-waite.house.gov

WebTemplateSite
Contact:


NEW MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT HELPING FLORIDA SENIORS

Washington, D.C., Mar 17 -

I would like to share with
you an excerpt from a letter that I read recently from a woman in St. Petersburg.

"It would be nice to see a positive article about the
Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. 
I believe the reason so many people are having trouble with the new
prescription plan is that the media have been telling everyone how confusing
and difficult it is to understand.  If
you say something often enough, people will start to believe it.”

Many of my constituents have expressed
this same sentiment to me, and as a lawmaker, it is frustrating to hear this
constant refrain.  While the media is
more than willing to exploit the select, specific problems of a few, they fail
to report of the thousands of my constituents who are enjoying the benefits of
the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. 
The media continues to salivate at the thought of this plan failing, but
as many millions of seniors can attest, the Prescription Drug Plan is cutting their
prescription drug costs in half.  In
fact, some seniors who previously did not have coverage at all are saving up to
71% on their prescription drug costs. 

When Congress enacted the
Prescription Drug Plan two years ago, we made the biggest changes to Medicare
in almost 40 years.  With a new program
helping over 42 million seniors nationwide, it is understandable that there
will be some hiccups.  However, I assure
you that I am working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to
ensure that these setbacks are resolved immediately and will not be repeated in
the future. 

In my district, almost 60% of
eligible seniors have signed up for the new Prescription Drug Plan in just under
three months.  As more and more seniors
save money on their prescriptions, I anticipate additional enrollees before the
May 15th deadline.  If you
would like more information on the Prescription Drug Plan, I encourage you to
call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit www.medicare.gov,
or contact staff in my office at 1-866-GWAITE-5. 

It is my honor and privilege
to serve the people of Florida's
5th Congressional District and my offices and staff are here to
provide you with any assistance you may need.