NCOA Supports
Bill to Improve Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy
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WASHINGTON, March 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NCOA announced its
strong support for legislation introduced today by U.S. Representative
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) that would make needed improvements to the Medicare
Part D Extra Help or Low-Income Subsidy (LIS).
NCOA worked closely with Rep. Doggett's office to ensure that
improvements were included that would most help those people with Medicare
who have the greatest need. Doggett is a leading member of the House Ways
and Means Committee.
NCOA estimates that 35 to 42 percent of those who needed to file an LIS
application did so successfully and that there are still up to 4.4 million
remaining beneficiaries with limited income and resources who are eligible
but have not yet signed up for it. Medicare's Extra Help includes low or no
premiums or cost sharing, and coverage through the donut hole.
"Medicare Part D cannot be considered a success until those who are
eligible for the Extra Help receive it," said NCOA Vice President of Public
Policy and Advocacy Howard Bedlin.
On January 31, NCOA testified before the Senate Special Committee on
Aging and released a report titled The Next Steps: Strategies to Improve
the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy. The report includes a variety of
recommendations to improve access to the Extra Help. The vast majority of
the report's legislative recommendations are included in Rep. Doggett's
bill, including:
-- Increasing the asset eligibility levels;
-- Permitting beneficiaries to apply for LIS and enroll in a plan at any
time without penalty;
-- Removing application questions on the cash surrender value of life-
insurance policies and in-kind support and maintenance;
-- Indexing cost sharing for all LIS beneficiaries to the Consumer Price
Index rather than prescription drug price increases; and
-- Excluding the value of the subsidy when determining benefit levels for
other needs-based programs.
Bedlin added, "As Congress considers improvements to the Medicare Part
D this year, priority should be given to helping beneficiaries in greatest
need. People with limited means stand to gain the most from Medicare
prescription drug coverage but continue to confront obstacles such as the
asset limits or other penalties. Rep. Doggett's proposal addresses many of
the most serious barriers and this is why NCOA strongly supports his bill."
Bedlin spoke at the press conference held by Representative Doggett's
office this afternoon. A copy of NCOA's report can be found at
http://www.ncoa.org/Downloads/NextStepsMedicarePartD.pdf. A copy of NCOA's
testimony before the Senate Special Committee on Aging can be found at:
http://aging.senate.gov/hearing_detail.cfm?id=269964&.
The National Council on Aging's mission is to improve the lives of
older Americans. NCOA programs help older people remain healthy and
independent, find jobs, increase access to benefits programs, and discover
meaningful ways to continue contributing to society. A charitable
organization with a national network of more than 14,000 organizations and
leaders, NCOA was founded in 1950 and is based in Washington, DC. For more
information about NCOA, please visit http://www.NCOA.org.
SOURCE National Council on Aging
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