Senior Care Program Saved

Thanks largely to efforts by Governor Doyle, U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, and U.S. Representative David Obey, Wisconsin's SeniorCare prescription drug program has been saved.

In late May, Congress passed, and the president signed, an appropriations bill that included a provision allowing Wisconsin to continue the SeniorCare program through 2009. SeniorCare serves more than 100,000 low-income seniors in Wisconsin.

In April, federal officials had decided against continuing funding for SeniorCare, saying they preferred that seniors used Medicare Part D.

Doyle strongly supported SeniorCare, saying it has been an effective prescription drug program for Wisconsin. According to analysis by AARP Wisconsin, more than 94% of seniors are better off on SeniorCare than they would be under Medicare Part D because the co-payments are lower and the coverage is more comprehensive. According to the Doyle administration, SeniorCare is easier than Medicare Part D because it has a simple one-page enrollment form. Wisconsin seniors who choose SeniorCare also do not need to choose from among the more than 50 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Seniors also know that their SeniorCare card will get them discounts at over 1,200 pharmacies across the state.

According to Kohl, it would cost $27 million more over the next five years to enroll seniors in the Medicare Part D drug program than to keep the state prescription drug alternative.

Posted June 4, 2007