People giving thanks and exchanging gifts, spending fun time with family and friends, and sharing good feelings usually come to mind during the holiday season. But during these cold winter months, flu viruses, bacterial infections and even injuries from winter-related outings aren’t too far from our minds.
With these ailments come doctor visits and expensive medical prescriptions. New York’s Medicare program provides a full range of health care services to the state’s low-income population and is funded by federal, state and local governments. To control costs and promote efficiency, New York has adopted a managed-care model to provide health care to most Medicare recipients, and it continues enrolling recipients into accredited Medicaid health plans. Containing the ever-escalating cost of New York’s Medicare program, while maintaining the high quality of coverage, continues to be a top priority for local and state governments.
As your representative for the 117th Assembly District, I am accustomed to hearing about the issues families routinely have with Medicare claims and from consumers who aren’t familiar with their plans. Many recipients spend more money than required on prescription drug coverage. The new Medicare Part D provides recipients with more choices in selecting plans that are right for them. Under Part D, Medicare recipients can join a prescription drug plan and pay a monthly premium, estimated at $35 for 2006.
All Medicare recipients are eligible for Part D prescription drug coverage. I want to remind my constituents that this plan is “entirely voluntary” and that it covers brand name and generic drugs and in some cases will cover up to 95 percent of drug costs.
Dealing with all the different Medicare plans can be confusing, when you mix with that a certain unfamiliarity with the program, you get a recipe for thieves to prey upon the unwitting. Individuals considering their Medicare options should educate themselves about what is available and to safeguard against potential predators who might steal their private information. For example, recipients should always be sure to shred documents with personal information such as Social Security numbers and driver license numbers before throwing documents in the trash.
Medicare recipients have already received loads of information about this new plan, so extra time has been afforded those who want to study their options in more detail. Open enrollment began on Nov. 15 and continues, without penalty, until May 15. I urge all Medicare recipients to review all Part D options and decide before rates go up what is right for them. Professionals are available at your office for the aging to help you decide which plan is right.
For more information or guidance, contact your office for the aging in Fulton County at (518) 736-5650, Herkimer County at (315) 867-1121 and Otsego County at (607) 547-4232. Program details are also available by visiting www.aging.state.ny.us. As always, I welcome your questions and comments.