Rockville Centre, NY – As New York’s seniors grapple with the staggering cost of long term care and struggle to understand the new Medicare prescription drug coverage plan, Senator Clinton unveiled a new resource guide on the prescription drug benefit and announced new legislation to help seniors address their long term care needs while remaining within their homes and communities. The new Medicare prescription drug benefit goes into effect in January 2006.

”We must do everything we can to help reduce the confusion and complexity of enrolling in the new Medicare prescription drug plans. As seniors deal with the new plans, where a mistake can potentially cut off access to critical medicines, I hope that this new resource guide will be a helpful tool for New Yorkers,” said Senator Clinton. “The guide answers some of the most commonly asked questions that New Yorkers have shared with me and my staff over the last year. It also includes a list of contacts and resources to help seniors and their families get their individual questions and cases addressed.”

Under the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (or “Part D”), insurance companies and other private companies will soon work with Medicare to offer prescription drug plans. Senator Clinton’s Guide to Prescription Drug Coverage Under Medicare is designed as a resource guide to help seniors make critical decisions about the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Senator Clinton also announced that she introduced long term care legislation before Congress adjourned for the August recess that will improve access to home and community based services. The legislation provides tax deductions for the cost of long-term care insurance and tax credits for individuals and their care givers to help cover long-term care expenses not covered by insurance.

”As long term care expenses escalate, caring for our loved ones is a growing concern for so many New Yorkers. In talking with seniors across the state, what I hear most is that people want to stay in their homes as long as they can,” said Senator Clinton. “This legislation will not only allow seniors to remain independent and live in their own homes, it will help reduce Medicaid costs and encourage people to purchase private long term care insurance.”

To assist seniors in meeting their long term care needs, Senator Clinton’s legislation will establish a national clearinghouse on long term care information. The legislation also expands long term care insurance consumer protections.

Senator Clinton’s Guide to Prescription Drug Coverage Under Medicare is available here.

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