Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage - The Healthy Choice
November 15 marked a critical milestone in improving health care for our nation’s seniors. Beginning that day, anyone enrolled in Medicare could sign up for the new voluntary prescription drug coverage program, with benefits available starting January 1, 2006. The sign-up period to lock in the most affordable premiums continues until May 15, 2006.
Because the program is voluntary, seniors who already enjoy prescription drug coverage do not need to sign up. But for anyone who is frustrated by high costs and limited options, I would encourage them to learn more.
Medicare was created in 1965, and over the past four decades health care has improved by leaps and bounds. It has also gotten more expensive. The Medicare prescription drug benefit was designed to make world-class health care more affordable for more people, as well as introducing prevention to the Medicare system. It simply doesn’t make sense anymore that Medicare would pay more than $100,000 for heart surgery but not the minimal cost of drugs that can prevent heart disease.
The new program allows seniors to select from various plans that cover much of the costs of name brand and generic drugs. By having multiple providers compete for customers, costs go down and options increase. The variety of options allows beneficiaries to choose a plan that fits their specific economic and medical needs. It is estimated that seniors currently without drug coverage will see their costs reduced by 50 percent if they sign up for Medicare coverage. Those with low incomes and disabilities can qualify for additional assistance and may have 100 percent of their drug costs covered.
By bringing Medicare into the 21st century, we are improving health care for seniors, as well as the efficiency of the Medicare program. In the long run, this will save taxpayer money. Medicare reforms passed by Congress in 2003 will ultimately rein in costs, increase options m and boost efficiency in a program that has been beset with waste, fraud, and abuse.
To determine if the Medicare prescription drug plan is the right choice for you, and to select and enroll in a specific plan, visit www.medicare.gov or speak with a Medicare representative by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Congress remains committed to strengthening Medicare so our seniors have affordable access to the best health care in the world.
