Medicare Part D is Working

MEDICARE PART D IS WORKING -- (House of Representatives - March 28, 2006)

(Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about the good news that is spreading across the country. Medicare part D is working. Seniors are signing up for a drug benefit through Medicare for the very first time.

According to recent studies, seniors could save as much as $1,100 annually. This is real savings for our senior population. Over 27 million Medicare-eligible beneficiaries now have drug coverage, a 25 percent increase from February, a 25 percent increase in 1 month.

Medicare's initial goal for the first year of enrollment was between 28 and 30 million beneficiaries, and they are well on their way there. In my home State of West Virginia, over 226,000 beneficiaries now have coverage, a 6 percent increase just in the month of February.

72,000 of those live in my district. This is real success. I sat next to John the other day at a dinner. He informed me with his new Medicare prescription drug coverage he is going to save $4,000 this year.

This is good news. There is much more work to be done. We must pull together to work with our constituents to find the best plans for their individual situations.

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