Thompson Renews Call for Medicare Rx Drug Deadline Extension

Thompson Renews Call for Medicare Rx Drug Deadline Extension

Beneficiaries Have Until Monday, May 15 to Sign Up Under Current Law

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) renewed his call today to extend the deadline for seniors to sign up for the new Medicare Part D drug benefit. Beneficiaries have until Monday, May 15 to sign up for the plan or face lifetime penalties for failing to do so. Thompson is a cosponsor of H.R. 3860 a bill that would extend the deadline and suspend the penalty for the 2006 calendar year.

Thompson, a member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee voted against the Medicare Prscription Drug Benefit in 2003.

"On Monday, most seniors who have not yet signed up for the new Part D benefit will face a significant financial penalty," Thompson said. "That is unacceptable, especially since this benefit was supposedly created to save seniors money. Right now, seniors in our community are picking and choosing from 48 different drug plans. Too many of them have been overwhelmed by the options and haven't yet signed up. Enrollment has been especially low among our poor. There is extra financial assistance available for low-income seniors, but fewer than 20% of those eligible have signed up."

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http://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/index.asp?ID=78