It-s Time to Sign up for Prescription Drug Coverage

By Congressman Rick Renzi In 2003, Congress modernized Medicare to alleviate the financial pain felt by many seniors who could not afford their prescription drugs. Last year was the first time Americas seniors were able to access a new prescription drug program, known as Medicare Part D. The prescription drug coverage was the fulfillment of Congress pledge to enable seniors to get the medications they need at affordable prices. Before the establishment of the Part D program, many times our seniors were forced to choose between buying groceries or buying life-saving medications. Statistics show that the Part D program is a success, over 24 million seniors have enrolled. The average national monthly premium projected in 2008 is $25, which is about 40 percent lower than initial estimates. Most importantly, the average Part D enrollee is saving $1,200 per year on prescription drugs. Also, due to the competition among private companies within the plan, the overall cost of Part D is much less than anticipated. The Part D program provides flexibility for seniors and current beneficiaries may make changes to their current plan during open season, which begins on November 15th and continues until December 31st. When seniors first began to enroll in this program there was plenty of confusion about how to sign up for the program and how it worked. Many of you contacted my office asking questions. To assist you, we held Medicare Part D seminars in 17 cities across rural Arizona and over 1,000 attendees enrolled in this new program. I will again be sponsoring Medicare Part D open season workshops where Medicare experts from my staff and the Medicare Access Network of Arizona can assist you in enrolling or changing your current Part D coverage. Medicare Part D is open to all seniors currently enrolled in Medicare. All you need to do is attend a workshop in your area, and remember to bring your Medicare card along with a current list of the medications you are taking, including the dose and frequency. At the workshop you can obtain personalized information about your options and find out which plan will best serve your needs. You can sign up for coverage on the spot or take home our information and discuss it with your family. Once you find out the best plan for you, just call my office and we will help you through the sign up process. I encourage all seniors with questions about Part D coverage, or those who are unsure how to sign up, to attend a workshop. If you have any other issues such as a problem with your Social Security or Veterans benefits, my staff will be on hand to help with these issues as well. Below is the list of the Medicare workshops. Globe Thursday, November 15th 11am-12pm Globe Senior Center 579 S. Broad Street Globe, AZ 85501 Payson Thursday, November 15th 11:30am1:30pm Payson Senior Circle 215 N. Beeline Highway Payson, AZ 85541 Flagstaff Friday, November 16th 10am-1pm Flagstaff Library 300 W. Aspen Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Florence Monday, November 19th 9-11am Dorothy Nolan Senior Center 330 N. Pinal Street Florence, AZ 85232 Coolidge Monday, November 19th 12:30-2pm Coolidge Senior Center 250 S. 3rd Street Coolidge AZ 85228 Casa Grande Tuesday, November 20th 9am-12 pm and 1-3 pm Sun Life Family Health Center 865 North Arizola Road Casa Grande, AZ 85222 Show Low Tuesday, November 27th 1-3pm Show Low Senior Center 301 E. McNeil Show Low, AZ 85901 Snowflake Wednesday, November 28th 10am-12pm Silver Creek Senior Center 1658 S. Main Street Snowflake, AZ 85937 Holbrook Wednesday, November 28th 1-3pm Holbrook Senior Center 216 Joy Nevin Avenue Holbrook, AZ 85025 St. Johns Thursday, November 29th 10am-12pm St. Johns Senior Center 395 S. 1st West St. Johns, AZ 85936 Overgaard Monday, December 3rd 10:30-11:30am Rim Country Senior Center 2172 B. Street Overgaard, AZ 85933 Safford Monday, December 3rd 3-5pm Graham County General Office Building 921 Thatcher Blvd Safford, AZ 85546 Springerville Tuesday, December 4th 10am-12pm Round Valley Senior Center 356 S. Papago Street Springerville, AZ 85938 Chino Valley Tuesday, December 11th 1-4pm Chino Valley Senior Center 1021 W. Butterfield Street Chino Valley, AZ 86323 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to talk to a Medicare representative 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have internet access: www.medicare.gov Call the Social Security Administration at: (1-800-772-1213) and if you have internet access www.socialsecurity.gov