Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program (EPIC):
EPIC is a New York State sponsored prescription plan for senior citizens who do not receive full Medicaid benefits and need help paying for their prescriptions. Over 360,000 seniors already belong and are receiving, on average, over 80 percent off the cost of their medicines.

As of 2007, seniors with EPIC have to join a Medicare Part D program to keep their EPIC coverage. To help keep your costs low, EPIC does help pay Medicare Part D premiums. It also helps cover the Part D plan deductibles, co-payments, coverage gap, and drugs not covered by the Part D plan. Call EPIC help line 1-800-332-3742 to enroll.

EPIC Extra:
Bill Reilich is working to increase EPIC benefits for seniors. Assembly Bill 3645-A will allow every senior with an income of $60,000 or less to claim an annual income tax deduction of up to $1,000 to defray the cost of prescription drugs.

Medicare Part D:
In 2006, the new Medicare prescription drug coverage benefit, also known as Medicare Part D, was started to help seniors and individuals with disabilities access comprehensive coverage with limited premiums and deductibles. Part D is available through private plans, including stand-alone prescription plans (PDPs) or Medicare private plans such as an HMO, PPO or PFFS. Individuals are eligible to join from 3 months before their 65th birthday to 3 months after their 65th birthday and from November 15 to December 31 each year.

Visit the United States government official web site for people with Medicare: www.medicare.gov for information.

Prescription Drug Guides for Seniors:
Last year, Bill Reilich helped pass legislation (Assembly Bill 6278) to help seniors understand their prescriptions more easily. This bill requires the New York State Board of Pharmacy, in conjunction with the New York State Consumer Protection Board, to publish a guide explaining the purpose, function and common drug interactions of prescriptions commonly used by seniors.

Long-Term Health Insurance:
Bill Reilich is working to ensure seniors have long-term health care at an affordable price. Assembly Bill 5579 will help senior citizens afford their long-term health insurance needs by increasing the tax credit for long-term care insurance to 25 percent of premiums paid.

Television receivers that are analog broadcast only will require a converter box after February 17, 2009 to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna due to the transition to digital broadcasting.

To help in the transition, all U.S. households will be eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two digital-to-analog converter boxes between Jan. 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009.

For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 or visit their digital television website at www.DTV.gov.

In addition to fighting for greater STAR rebate checks, Assemblyman Bill Reilich is leading the fight to cap property taxes to provide real and lasting property tax relief for Monroe County Seniors, while fighting to eliminate unfunded state mandates on our school system to ensure that our children and grandchildren continue to receive a top-of-the-line education.