May 03,2004

Grassley Encourages Seniors to Take Advantage of Medicare Drug Discount Cards

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today encouraged Iowa Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of Medicare’s new drug discount program that gives older Americans and people with disabilities savings on their prescription drugs. Starting today, beneficiaries have the opportunity to shop around for drug discount cards and choose the best option for them. This program will be especially valuable to those enrolled in Medicare without access to prescription drug coverage.

Through the new discount card program, Medicare beneficiaries will receive discounts on prescription drugs. Low-income beneficiaries may also receive an additional $600 to pay for their prescription medicines in both 2004 and 2005 until the comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit begins in January 2006. Beginning today, beneficiaries can enroll in the discount card program, and the drug discounts will be available June 1.

“Congress created this voluntary drug discount card program to give older Americansimmediate help with the cost of their prescription medications,” Grassley said. “This program willhelp millions of people benefit from lower prescription drug costs now. Medicare beneficiaries won’thave to wait any longer to lower their prescription drug costs. The discounts and targeted assistancefor lower income beneficiaries will make life-saving medicines more affordable.”

Grassley, the lead Senate author of the new Medicare Modernization Act, which offers avoluntary prescription drug benefit for the first time, said the discount card is available for less than$30 a year to all Medicare beneficiaries who don’t have outpatient drug coverage through Medicaid.Beneficiaries using the Medicare-approved drug discount cards are expected to save between10 percent to 15 percent on their total drug costs, and up to 25 percent on certain prescription drugs,Grassley said. Medicare beneficiaries can expect to receive access to the discounts through theirlocal pharmacies and mail-order drug companies. Using Medicare’s Web site or a Medicaretelephone representative, they will be able to compare prices offered by sponsors on specific drugsand enroll in the program that best suits their needs.

Grassley and his fellow lawmakers targeted the greatest assistance to those with the greatestneed. Low-income beneficiaries will qualify for a $600 annual credit on the card for 2004 and 2005and pay no enrollment fee. A single person whose income is no more than about $12,600, and amarried couple whose income is no more than about $16,900, qualify for the credit. For these lowincomebeneficiaries, the card will be just like a debit card. When the card is presented at apharmacy, the beneficiary will be able to “draw down” from the $600 to purchase his or herprescriptions.

“The drug discount card will be available to all Medicare beneficiaries regardless of wherethey live, and it’s completely voluntary,” Grassley said. “That means if you’re satisfied with yourtraditional Medicare, you don’t have to get a drug discount card. But if you use prescription drugs,you might find considerable cost savings through a drug discount card until the comprehensiveprescription drug benefit kicks in. The comprehensive prescription drug benefit also will becompletely voluntary. We wanted to create more options, not fewer, for Medicare beneficiaries.”

During the first four months of the year, Grassley conducted 39 meetings throughout Iowato help educate beneficiaries about the Medicare-approved drug discount card and new Medicaredrug benefit.

“Last year Congress approved the biggest improvement to Medicare in history,” Grassleysaid. “But it won’t do Medicare beneficiaries one bit of good if they aren’t aware of the new benefits.Through my town meetings, I’ve worked hard to spread the word and gather feedback from Iowans.At my meetings I also informed Iowans that they could go to three places to get more informationabout how the new benefit will benefit them.”

The three places to learn more about the new drug discount card program are:

• The federal agency that runs Medicare has upgraded its Web site to allow visitors tocompare drug prices and search for a local pharmacy that accepts the Medicare-approved discountcards. Medicare beneficiaries and their family members can go to www.medicare.gov to learn more.In addition, they may access one-on-one assistance by calling toll-free 1/800-MEDICARE to speakdirectly with a trained benefits counselor for personalized help.

• In January, Grassley urged the secretary of Health and Human Services to direct resourcesto local State Health Insurance Information Assistance Programs (SHIIP). This network of staff andtrained volunteers provides free expert advice and confidential counseling to folks who need helpfiguring out their health insurance coverage. HHS boosted funding for these local outreach programsby 69 percent to get help where help is needed most in the communities where Medicarebeneficiaries live. These dedicated representatives know the Medicare program inside and out. Theyoffer unbiased information to help older folks choose the right benefit option for them. Iowa hasrepresentatives in 75 counties. To find a trained volunteer in their area, Medicare beneficiaries andtheir family members should call 1/800-351-4664 or send an e-mail to shiip@comm6.state.ia.us.

Also they can check its Web site at www.shiip.state.ia.us.

• Grassley said Iowans can also always contact any of his state offices for more information.

Cedar Rapids
206 Federal Building
101 1st Street, S.E.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
(319) 363-6832

Council Bluffs
307 Federal Building
8 South 6th Street
Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
(712) 322-7103

Davenport
131 West 3rd Street
Suite 180
Davenport, Iowa 52801
(563) 322-4331
*Temporary address while the Federal Building is under renovation

Des Moines
721 Federal Building
210 Walnut Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
(515) 284-4890

Sioux City
103 Federal Building
320 6th Street
Sioux City, Iowa 51101
(712 )233-1860

Waterloo
210 Waterloo Building
531 Commercial Street
Waterloo, Iowa 50701
(319) 232-6657

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