Napolitano Holds Town Hall on Medicare Part D

(Pico, Rivera, CA)– Dozens of constituents attended a Town Hall meeting held April 19 by Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) at the Pico Rivera Senior Center to learn more about how to participate in the confusing Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Center for Healthcare Rights, CA Healthcare Advocates, Social Security Administration, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, and My Medicare Matters were on hand to address the many concerns of seniors, citizens who are disabled and working families. The discussion included important upcoming Medicare Part D deadlines, how to get coverage for prescription drugs not currently covered by the plan, how to pick a Part D plan that is right for you, what you are entitled to as a Part D enrollee and supplemental benefits/assistance programs.

“This is such an important issue, and I wanted to make the information available to you and our local communities. We have several agencies here today to help you make decision about which plan is right for you,” said Napolitano. 

Some people are paying more for medicine now than before they joined the program. Many lower income people ran into problems when they were forced to switch from their drug benefits within Medicaid to the Medicare drug benefit.

May 15 is the deadline for enrolling in the new Medicare drug benefit plan, which was enacted by the Republican-controlled Congress in 2003.

Democrats continue to fight for changes in the Medicare prescription drug plan that will help people get the medicine they need rather than the Republican-backed plan that provides giveaways to HMOs and drug companies.

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