Guest guest Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Asclepios Your Weekly Medicare Consumer Advocacy Update Decision Time June 12, 2008 • Volumme 8, Issue 24 This afternoon, your Senator will take a vote that will show whether or not they are prepared to help the millions of people with Medicare who have trouble paying medical and drug bills. If they want to help, they will vote for S. 3101, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. If they care, but not enough to do anything about it, they will vote no. S. 3101 spends $1.7 billion over the next five years to eliminate some bureaucratic hurdles that prevent people with Medicare living below or just above the poverty level ($867 per month for an individual) get help with their drug costs and medical bills. It would, for example, allow sons and daughters to buy groceries or help pay the rent of an impoverished parent, without fear that this help would disqualify Mom and Dad from assistance with their drug costs. Senator Grassley, Republican of Iowa, who is leading the partisan charge against S. 3101, thinks this will break the bank, expanding coverage under an “already unsustainable program.†Last year, Senator Grassley said the asset test for the drug benefit’s Extra Help program should be completely eliminated, a great idea, but a much larger coverage expansion that would cost tens of billions of dollars. This year, the marching orders from the White House are different and Senator Grassley is following them. We have to let our senators know it is unacceptable to vote against help for people with Medicare even if they have orders from President Bush. Call 1- to connect toll-free to the Capitol Switchboard. Ask for your senator by name, tell them you live in their state and you want them to cast a vote for S.3101 and for people with Medicare Medical Record “The bill increases the level of savings that [Medicare Savings Program] applicants may have and still qualify for help. Additionally, the value of life insurance policies or financial help from churches or family members will not count against a senior’s eligibility for assistance.†( Making Medicare Work Better for all America’s Seniors, Committee on Finance, June 2007) “Let me turn to the most critical difference between the bill we are introducing today and the bill the majority wants to proceed to tomorrow. The bill we are introducing today can be signed into law. The President will sign our bill.†( Floor Statement of Senator Grassley, June 2008) * * * * Medicare Part D Appeals Help for Advocates is here! MRC’s new Medicare Part D Appeals: An advocate’s manual to navigating the Medicare private drug plan appeals process offers an easy-to-understand, comprehensive overview of the entire appeals process, including real-life case examples, a glossary of important appeals terms, a sample protocol for advocates, and links to important resources. Download a FREE copy of this great resource. * * * * Medicare Part D Monitoring Project The Medicare Rights Center (MRC) would like to hear about your experience, or that of someone you know, enrolled in a Medicare private drug plan. With information about what the issues are with Medicare Part D, we will be able to demand that those problems be fixed. Submit your story at http://www.medicarerights.org/partdstories.html. * * * * The Louder Our Voice, the Stronger Our Message Asclepios —named for the Greek and Roman god of medicine who, acclaimed for his healing abilities, was at one point the most worshipped god in Greece—is a weekly e-newsletter designed to keep you up-to-datte with Medicare program and policy issues, and advance advocacy strategies to address them. Please help build awareness of key Medicare consumer issues by forwarding this action alert to your friends and encouraging them to subscribe today. * * * * The Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is the largest independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States. Founded in 1989, MRC helps older adults and people with disabilities get good, affordable health care. Visit our online subscription form to sign up for Asclepios at http://www.medicarerights.org/subscribeframeset.html. Unsubscribe from this mailing. Modify your profile and subscription preferences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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