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U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) invites area seniors to a forum at the Edison Senior Center, located at 2963 Woodbridge Avenue, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22nd to discuss the new Medicare prescription drug plan that went into effect on January 1.
Many seniors have yet to sign up for the new benefit because of the complexity and confusion surrounding the program. Furthermore, Pallone said, some seniors who are already enrolled have experienced significant problems, especially low-income seniors and people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid who have been denied or delayed access to their prescription drugs.
Pallone believes it is important to bring together seniors so they can have their questions answered by experts to help alleviate any confusion they are currently experiencing. Pallone also would like to hear about any problems seniors are having with the program.
The New Jersey congressman will be joined at the forum by Edison Mayor Jun Choi, Valerie Harr, Chief of the Bureau of Budget and Accounting for the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services at the New Jersey Department of Human Services, and Deborah Breslin, Director of the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
Two years ago Pallone opposed the Republican prescription drug law because it did not provide a defined benefit to seniors within the Medicare system. He instead supported legislation that would create a drug plan provided directly by Medicare rather than private insurance companies and allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries.
Despite Pallone's objections, the law took effect on January 1, 2006. The enrollment period started November 15, 2005 and will run until May 15, 2006. For those who signed up by December 31, 2005, coverage began on January 1, 2006. Those who sign up after May 15, 2006 will be charged a late penalty that increases the cost of the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
If seniors have questions about the forum, they should call Pallone's New Brunswick District Office at 732-249-8892. |
