Americans United Calls on Congressman Fitzpatrick to Fix Fatally Flawed Part D
Fitzpatrick's belated call to Extend Part D Enrollment Deadline and Waive the Penalty for Seniors, Disabled Not Enough
Langhorne, PA - On the heels of the open enrollment period ending on May 15th for millions of seniors and disabled to sign up for the Medicare Part D, Americans United acknowledged Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick's belated calls to waive the penalty and extend the enrollment deadline a full day after the official enrollment period had already ended, but the group said that extending the enrollment deadline is not enough and that the Congressman must also support the badly needed fixes.
"Congressman Fitzpatrick's calls to extend the Part D enrollment deadline and waive the late enrollment penalty for seniors and disabled is simply not enough," said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Americans United. "It's nothing but lip service after the fact if Rep. Fitzpatrick doesn't also support real fixes to the fatally flawed program to make it simple, affordable, and guaranteed for Pennsylvania seniors and disabled Pennsylvanians."
Part D is a special interest law that was written by and for the big drug and insurance companies. It prohibits Medicare from negotiating for the lowest possible drug prices for seniors and denies seniors the choice of a simple prescription drug benefit directly from Medicare. It shelters a massive ‘donut hole,' a gap in coverage for annual costs between $2,250 and $5,100 which will result in millions of seniors being denied coverage each year while they still pay monthly premiums. In addition, if the enrollment period is not reopened, Pennsylvania seniors will not be able to get drug coverage under Part D until January, 2007 at the earliest - and will face a seven percent penalty on their premiums each month thereafter for the rest of their lives.
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