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CONTACT: Stephanie Smiley, (608) 267-6773
GOVERNOR DOYLE ASKS OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO EXTEND
SENIORCARE THROUGH 2012
Submits Formal Application for Extension
MADISON—Governor Doyle has submitted the formal application to the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to extend the state's
successful prescription drug program, SeniorCare, to 2012. SeniorCare is
currently scheduled to end December 31, 2009.
"Governor Doyle is committed to working with President Obama's
administration to make sure that SeniorCare remains a viable alternative
for more than 86,000 Wisconsin seniors," said Secretary Karen
Timberlake. "SeniorCare not only gives our seniors the drugs they
need at a price they can afford, but it also saves Wisconsin taxpayers and
the federal government millions of dollars. During this tough economic
time, our state needs to ensure that seniors have access to a program that
is proven to be cost-effective for both seniors and taxpayers alike."
SeniorCare continues to be a popular and successful program and is an
affordable alternative to Medicare Part D. Unlike Part D, SeniorCare has a
simple enrollment process, a $30 annual enrollment fee, an income-based
deductible and copayments of $5 for generic drugs or $15 for brand drugs.
SeniorCare also does not have a strict enrollment period or enrollment
penalty, nor do members have a gap in coverage, like Medicare Part D.
The annual federal cost per enrollee for SeniorCare is $588 and is
significantly lower than the average Part D beneficiary cost of $1,690.
This difference alone accounts for an annual savings to taxpayers and the
federal government of more than $90 million dollars. The state of
Wisconsin is also able to leverage additional savings because it can use
its bargaining power to negotiate the lowest prices for prescription
drugs, while Congress made it illegal for the federal government to
bargain for lower prices.
SeniorCare has provided affordable, comprehensive prescription drug
coverage to thousands of Wisconsin seniors since 2002.
For SeniorCare information, call the SeniorCare hotline at (800)
657-2038 or go to http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/seniorcare/
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Last Revised: February 10, 2009 |
