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| Wilson Applauds Medicare Decision |
September 22, 2004 |
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| Seniors Win
Congresswoman Heather Wilson today applauded the decision by Medicare to automatically enroll low-income seniors in the prescription drug discount card program.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which administers the Medicare program, announced today that low-income seniors in Medicare Savings Programs will be automatically enrolled in the discount card program and will have a streamlined process to receive the $600 credit. Estimates are that up to 26,000 New Mexicans will benfit from the change.
“This decision by Medicare means thousands of New Mexicans will get immediate help with the cost of their prescription drugs automatically and can get $1,200 in the next 14 months nearly automatically,” said Wilson. “This is a big win for seniors in New Mexico.”
Medicare Savings Programs pay all or part of Medicare Part B premiums and Medicare copayments for seniors with annual income below $12,569 for individuals and $16,862 for couples. Seniors in Medicare Savings Programs include Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs), Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMBs), and Qualifying Individuals (QI-1s).
Seniors in Medicare Savings Programs will receive an enrollment kit, including a discount card, in mid-October. The card will become effective on November 1. Seniors will make one phone call to activate the $600 credit.
Over 4 million seniors are now enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug discount card program, and this action will enroll about 1.8 million more. A recent analysis by the American Enterprise Institute showed these cards offer savings in Albuquerque of between 23% and 36% off the retail price of the five medicines most commonly used by seniors.
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