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You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Elderly advocates hope to improve Medicare

Elderly advocates hope to improve Medicare

December 30, 2008 By WRN Contributor

An advocate group for the aging is working to improve Medicare.

It's pretty complicated, but Tom Frazier, Executive Director of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups , says rest assured; they are urging lawmakers to make Medicare better and simpler, especially the controversial Part D drug benefit.

"We hope the new administration will takes some steps to make some major improvements like having the Federal government negotiate prices, trying to simplify the program … it's way too complex."

The Medicare Part D program provides many senior citizens with assistance in paying for prescription drugs. Beneficiaries pay the initial deductible, then 25% of the cost of medications — up to an initial coverage limit of about $2,500. Then, there's a huge annual out-of-pocket deductible, known as the "Donut Hole," which Frazier wants to fix.

"Trying to eliminate or drastically reduce what's called the donut hole which is a period where people are enrolled in Part D but they have to pay 100% of their drugs."

When a beneficiary's total out-of-pocket expenses reach just over $4,000, the "Catastrophic Coverage " benefit begins.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:22 mp3)

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