By U.S. Congressman John R. Carter (31st-TX)
Access to quality healthcare is something that Americans should be able to depend on. Medicare and the new prescription drug plan are in place to provide affordable health services to millions of American seniors. Medicare Part D was rolled out in the past and seniors throughout the country are seeing the benefits of this plan.
The prescription drug benefit is allowing Medicare to evolve with our nation's medical advancements. And while it took some time for people to get used to the new program, seniors who are enrolled with Medicare Part D are not only very satisfied with the coverage they are receiving, they are also saving money.
When Congress crafted the prescription drug benefit, it was important to introduce a competitive pricing structure in order to lower drug costs for seniors. As expected, competition is having the intended effect - it is driving down drug prices and premiums for seniors. The Medicare prescription drug benefit has already lowered premiums to an average of $25 per month. And there are many plans available with no premiums or no deductibles.
Before being enrolled in this comprehensive prescription drug benefit, many seniors paid large sums of their fixed income towards expensive medication. Some seniors were forced to cut back on their drug dosage or forgo them altogether because of cost. In 2002, 45 percent of Medicare beneficiaries lacked prescription-drug coverage for all or some of the year. Now, more than 90 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have drug coverage.
Although there will be increases to Medicare premiums in 2007, they will be modest. In fact, an analysis by Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute estimated that average premiums in 2007 would be $3.10 a month higher for those who stick with the same plan. For seniors with limited means, additional help is available. About one-third of all people with Medicare will qualify for extra assistance that will cover between 85 percent and almost 100 percent of prescription drug costs.
For more information on Medicare, you can visit their website at www.medicare.gov or call a Medicare representative at 1-800-MEDICARE.
For seniors the choice is easy: enroll now, and start saving. If you are eligible for this benefit and have yet to sign up, take action and join the more than 30 million seniors who are reaping the benefits of Medicare Part D.
March 2007
