ICAN - Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet

The Medicare Part D Disaster: Extend the May 15 Deadline

On May 15, seniors who haven’t signed up for Medicare Part D will face a penalty every month for the rest of their lives unless they enroll. Given the problems so far with Part D, it’s no wonder that seniors haven’t been signing up.

So why haven’t seniors been signing up for the prescription drug benefit?

Confusion – With too many complicated plans offered, seniors are confused as to how the program works and what plan, if any, is right for them. Many seniors don’t have family support or the knowledge to help them through the web of co-pays, premiums, and hard to understand plans.
Donut hole – When someone enrolled in the program reaches $2,250 in costs they will fall into the “donut hole” and receive no coverage. Millions will pay 100% of their prescription costs, as well as their premiums, yet receive no benefit.
Higher costs – Under the “Part D Disaster” Medicare is not allowed to negotiate lower prices from drug companies. Part D drugs are at least 50% higher than those negotiated by the Veteran’s Administration.
Bait & Switch - Insurance companies can take medications off of their list of approved drugs, yet seniors are locked in to plans with an enrollment period for a year.

Insurance and drug companies are trying to strong arm seniors into signing up to a program that they don’t understand and don’t support. Seniors shouldn’t be penalized for that. The deadline to enroll must be extended until the program can be fixed.

A true fix to Medicare Part D will require:

Medicare negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices;
Offer Medicare beneficiaries a plan under traditional Medicare that does not require them to join private plans;
Eliminate the “donut hole” where beneficiaries continue to pay premiums but get no benefits;
End “bait and switch” where companies can change the drugs it covers, but seniors are locked into plans.

Please contact Charlie Wishman at Iowa Citizen Action Network for more information: 515-277-5077 ext. 15 or cwishman@iowacan.org.

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The Cost to Iowa

Guidling Principles of Health Care Reform

Iowa Human Needs Advocates is a working group of over 30 organizations that advocate in the human services arena. ICAN and IHNA have drafted guiding principles for health care reform in Iowa.

EVENT

RESOURCES

People or Profits: The Game Show

Iowa Human Needs Advocates is a working group of over 30 organizations that advocate in the human services arena. ICAN and IHNA have drafted guiding principles for health care reform in Iowa.

Learn more and take action here, a web site for consumers who want to join the fight for fair prescription drugs prices.

STATEMENT

ICAN organizer Matt Russell addresses committee members regarding the need for prescription drug price relief in Iowa. Read his statement here.

REPORTS

The Excess Cost of the Bush Prescription Drug Plan in Iowa

Learn about how Medicare Part D wastes Iowa taxpayer money and how we can fix this disasterous plan.

Health Care in Iowa: A Continuing Problem of Access

Iowa Policy Project has released this new report on health care access. One in 11 Iowans falls through the cracks of health-care coverage in Iowa, lacking access to health insurance through an employer or through government services – and despite some recent gains, the percentage of Iowans who are uninsured has not improved from the start of the decade.

Medicaid at 40: A Service That Works, For Americans Who Need It

IOWANS FACE RISING DRUG COST BURDEN: Iowa among the states most affected by rising prescription drug costs. Read entire report here.

MEDICARE CAMPAIGN

How will the Bush Medicare Prescription Drug Law affect your budget in 2006? Click here for a month-by-month cost analysis.

To see Important Facts You Need to Know About the Bush Medicare Prescription Law of 2003, click here.

For a fact sheet about The Medicare Prescription Discount Drug Card, click here.

To see how the discount card costs compares unfavorably to VA, Canada, and drugstore.com, click here.

Medicare Worksheet - to estimate what you will have to pay in 2006 for prescription drugs, download and print this worksheet.

NEWS FROM THE ROAD

Medicare Road Show Picks Up Steam in the Midwest, April 13, 2004: Des Moines, Iowa.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Q & A

The new Medicare law is extremely complicated and extremely politicized. Click here for a question and answer resource from FamiliesUSA that can help you better understand the effects of this law.

HEALTH CARE PRINCIPLES

These principles are the cornerstone of a quality health care system. Any health care proposal must bring us closer to meeting them.

JOINT STATEMENTS

A coalition of groups demands that Senator Grassley protect Medicaid funding. Read the letter here.

Joint statement on the effects of the Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003

REPORT

Congress’ Prescription Deal Costs Iowans More and Undermines the Entire Medicare System. Released 11/18/03 by ICAN and the Institute for America's Future. Click here.

Iowa Citizen Action Network

Health Care For All