Sign Up Deadline of May 15th Is Looming

LANSDOWNE – During a visit to the Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands Senior Center, U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin today urged seniors to carefully consider whether they should sign up for the Medicare Part D program. If they decide that they should enroll, “they need to carefully consider which program best meets their needs.”

The Congressman opposed the 2003 Medicare law creating the Part D benefit and has been an outspoken critic of the program.  Today he told seniors that “the May 15th enrollment deadline is approaching and they must make the appropriate decision for their needs or face a possible penalty.” The Congressman has introduced the Medicare Informed Choice Act, HR 3861, which would extend the open enrollment deadline through Dec. 31, 2006.

“While I urge seniors to make the right decision on signing up and on choosing a
plan, the Part D benefit is seriously flawed and I will continue to work to ensure that seniors have a prescription drug program that is workable and that meets their needs.”

In addition to extending the sign up deadline, Rep. Cardin also has introduced legislation that would:

• Provide a guaranteed prescription drug benefit under the Medicare program;

• Allow the federal government to negotiate lower drug costs, saving American taxpayers billions of dollars;

• Coordinate with retiree health care plans so that retirees do not lose their prescription drug coverage; and

• Remove the exclusion from benzodiazepines, a classification of medications frequently used to treat seizures and anxiety.

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