Illinois seniors urged to enroll in Illinois Cares Rx as Medicare
Part D deadline approaches
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[APRIL 4, 2006]
CHICAGO -- With the May 15 deadline to enroll in
Medicare Part D without penalty rapidly approaching, Gov. Rod R.
Blagojevich joined U.S. Reps. Rahm Emanuel, D-5, and Jan Schakowsky,
D-9, at North Park Village Senior Center in Chicago on Monday to
urge Illinois seniors who have yet to enroll in the new Medicare
Part D program to enroll in the state's generous Illinois Cares Rx
program to avoid facing gaps in their insurance coverage.
Blagojevich and Emanuel also expressed support for Schakowsky's
legislation to extend the May 15 deadline for the federal program.
Illinois' program is designed to fill in the gaps in the coverage
offered by the federal program.
"We don't believe that
seniors should face gaps in their prescription drug coverage, and
that's why we created Illinois Cares Rx," Blagojevich said. "So far,
over 240,000 senior citizens have signed up for our new program. But
for those who have not, now is a good time to enroll, so you don't
end up facing the gaps in the federal program's coverage. I also
want to thank Representatives Emanuel and Schakowsky for their
steadfast support of making less expensive prescription drugs
available to Illinois senior citizens."
"Across the nation,
Medicare beneficiaries have faced enormous obstacles in getting
their prescription drugs," said Emanuel. "Here in Illinois, the
governor is working to solve these problems with his Illinois Cares
Rx program. He has created the nation's most comprehensive state
response to filling the gaps created by Medicare Part D. He is
working to ensure that seniors in Illinois will have access to the
prescription drugs they deserve."
"Illinois Cares Rx covers many of the gaps created by President
Bush's Part D disaster," said Schakowsky. "Governor Blagojevich and
Illinois have done more than any other state to help beneficiaries.
Our governor is working to ensure that seniors and people with
disabilities have access to the drugs their doctors prescribe. I
will continue to fight for a better Part D benefit that meets the
needs of seniors and people with disabilities, not the drug and
insurance companies."
The federal Medicare Modernization Act pays 75 percent of
prescription drug costs up to $2,250 after a $250 deductible, with
an average premium of $32 per month. Beneficiaries are responsible
for all of their costs between $2,250 and $5,100, with the plan
paying 95 percent of costs beyond the top threshold. The gap where a
beneficiary has to pay all the drug costs, between $2,250 and
$5,100, is commonly referred to as the "doughnut hole."
The Illinois Cares Rx program allows the state's low-income
seniors and people who have disabilities and have been getting
prescription drug assistance through state programs to avoid high
out-of-pocket expenses and gaps in coverage created by the new
Medicare Part D program.
The "wraparound coverage" provided through Illinois Cares Rx to
Illinois seniors and people with disabilities will help cover the
increased costs of the Medicare program, including premium costs,
coinsurance, coverage in the gap and the deductible.
To help Illinois seniors know how to avoid facing gaps in their
coverage, nearly 35 Medicare Part D and Illinois Cares Rx enrollment
events scheduled by the Illinois Department on Aging, the Department
of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Senior Health Insurance
Program will continue through May 15. Also, the nearly 200 SHIP
locations statewide are open, with volunteers available to help
guide enrollees through the application.
"Aging staff and the 13 Area Agencies on Aging across the state
are still out in the communities answering last-minute questions and
concerns that people may have," said Illinois Department on Aging
Director Charles D. Johnson. "We have extra people answering calls
on our Senior HelpLine, and there's a lot of important information
on our department's website and on
IllinoisBenefits.org.
Through interagency cooperation with HFS and SHIP, we've been able
to enroll more than a million Illinoisans in some sort of
prescription drug program."
Illinois seniors and people with disabilities who want to find
out about eligibility for the Illinois Cares Rx program, want to
enroll in the Illinois Cares Rx program, need assistance with
Medicare Part D enrollment or want to know the location of the
nearest Senior Health Insurance Program office should call the
Department on Aging at 1 (800) 252-8966, the Senior Health Insurance
Program at 1 (800) 548-9034, or visitwww.illinoisbenefits.orgor
www.idfpr.com/DOI/Ship/ship_volunteers.asp. The current schedule
of Medicare Part D enrollment events is at right.
