Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D & Advantage Begins
Oct 15, 2012 Issues: Health
LANGHORNE, PA - Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08) announced the beginning of open enrollment for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage this afternoon, and noted a recent survey demonstrating all-time high support of these programs by seniors.
"Beginning today, senior citizens across Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District can begin enrolling in Medicare Part D or change their existing coverage plan. Seniors with questions can contact my Langhorne District Office at 215-579-8102 for assistance.
Through its innovative, competitive bidding approach, Part D has been a relative success. By allowing seniors to choose their own plans and permitting competition to work, this program has not only provided quality coverage for seniors, but also performed significantly under budget – a rarity for a federal government program.
Unless we strengthen the system, Medicare is set to go bankrupt in 2024, and 7.4 million seniors are projected to lose their Medicare Advantage coverage. I will continue working to protect our Medicare system not only to ensure benefits for current seniors, but also to strengthen the program for future generations."
The open enrollment period will run from October 15 to December 7, 2012.
A survey conducted by Medicare Today indicated that 9 out of 10 seniors are satisfied with their Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), overall satisfaction with Part D has increased from 78 percent to 90 percent since the program was first implemented, and 96 percent report that their coverage works well, and nearly 3 in 4 seniors say it works “very well.”
Medicare Today and its partner KRC Research have conducted this survey annually since 2006, and have made their full results available at www.MedicareToday.org.
