Special Community Meetings Event to Help Seniors Learn About the New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Special Community Meetings Event to Help Seniors Learn About the New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
December 15/16, 2005
I will be conducting a series of special community meetings throughout Ohio's Third Congressional District on December 15 and 16, 2005. The purpose of these events is to help seniors learn about the new Medicare prescription drug benefits. Medicare beneficiaries have been eligible to sign up for the new prescription since November 15, 2005 and the prescription drug benefit will be available beginning January 1, 2006.
In 2003, I voted for Medicare Reform, because the reforms brought us to the changes that are now just a few weeks away. For the first time since the program began in 1965, affordable prescription drugs will be available to all 40 million Americans enrolled in Medicare.
A few critical points about the new Medicare prescription should be mentioned in every factual conversation. In particular, participation in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit is completely voluntary. Seniors should examine the various plans and then decide if they choose to participate, or if they want to remain with their current coverage. Seniors may choose from a number of different plans, including HMOs, PPOs, or traditional Medicare. One of the goals that the Medicare legislation accomplished was providing maximum flexibility and options for seniors.
Here are the basic details about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. The goal of the plan is to make prescription drugs afford for all seniors. Most seniors will have only a $250 benefit each year and a monthly premium of around $35 per month. After the first $250, Medicare will pay for 75% of prescription drug costs, with seniors contributing 25%, up to $2,250. After seniors reach $3,600 in out-of-pocket costs, Medicare will pay 95% of remaining prescription drug costs. This is the "catastrophic coverage" portion of the new Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Seniors with the greatest need will receive the most help. Single seniors with annual incomes below $12,920, and couples with incomes less than $17,321, will have no deductible, no monthly premium and co-payments of just a few dollars. Seniors with incomes that are slightly higher will pay reduced deductibles, premiums and co-payments.
We have planned four community meetings, for Thursday, December 15 and Friday, December 16, 2005. Here are the times and locations for the events. If you receive Medicare benefits, please consider attending the meeting that is most convenient for you.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
9:30 a.m.
Hoover Place Senior Community Center
5407 Hoover Avenue
Dayton, Ohio
Thursday, December 15, 2005
2:00 p.m.
Otterbein Retirement Village
585 N. State Route 741
Lebanon, Ohio
Friday, December 16, 2005
9:30 a.m.
Cape May Retirement Village
175 Cape May Drive
Wilmington, Ohio
Friday, December 16, 2005
2:00 p.m.
Highland County Senior Citizens Center
185 Muntz Street
Hillsboro, Ohio
Joining me at the special community meetings will be representatives from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIP), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and many of the companies that are offering Medicare prescription plans.
In order to determine what specific plan will be most effective for you, please bring with you a list with all of your medications and your daily dosage. Seniors should also know what their medications cost and the name of their preferred pharmacy.
I am confident that seniors will find these events informative. For the first time Medicare will offer a complete prescription drug benefit for Ohio seniors. These special community meetings will help explain what the benefits are and how to find the best specific program for each senior's individual needs. I am hopeful seniors will find these events helpful. I am looking forward to meeting with you on December 15th and 16th at one of the four special community meetings on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.
http://www.house.gov/miketurner/