Extension of Medicare drug program urged (Dems radio address)

[cal04]

Florida Democrat: 'Millions are confused' as deadline looms
The new Medicare prescription drug program is a payoff to pharmaceutical companies and contains confusing details that deny benefits to thousands of senior citizens, a Democratic candidate for Congress said Saturday. "While any prescription drug help to older Americans is a good thing for many, millions are confused and are having a tough time navigating the options and confusing details buried in the fine print," Florida state Sen. Ron Klein said in his party's weekly radio address. "Millions of American seniors will be forced to pay a penalty" if they miss Monday's deadline to sign up for the plan, Klein added. He noted that up to 160,000 senior citizens in Florida may lose coverage and more than 315,000 in the state could be forced to pay higher fees under the plan.

Klein is challenging Republican Rep. Clay Shaw in a district where about 40 percent of the voters are senior citizens. Florida has more older voters than any other state. President Bush made a visit to the state this week pitching the program to senior citizens in three Florida cities. He also attended a private fundraiser for Shaw, raising more than $800,000 for the 13-term incumbent. Given Bush's waning popularity, the complex Medicare program, high gasoline prices, the Iraq war and Republican scandals, Democrats see the race as a good opportunity to pick up a seat in the House, where they need 15 to take the majority. While Bush acknowledged the prescription program is complicated and has caused confusion, he has refused to extend the deadline. Many lawmakers want to extend it, including Klein.

"It's common sense that if people need a little more time, let's give them more time," he said in an interview Friday after taping the radio address in West Palm Beach. As of Wednesday, 6 million eligible applicants had yet to sign up for the program that allows beneficiaries to enroll in a private plan that subsidizes the cost of their drugs. The administration estimates the average participant will save about $1,100 a year. In his radio address, Klein said the new prescription drug law pushed through the Republican controlled Congress is "little more than a legislative payoff to the pharmaceutical industry and HMOs."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/13/dems.radio.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest

In his radio address, Klein said the new prescription drug law pushed through the Republican controlled Congress is "little more than a legislative payoff to the pharmaceutical industry and HMOs."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060513/ap_on_go_co/democrats_medicare_1

[rodeodance]

1. at least they keep trying to get the extenstion. The idea of imposing pena

lties in the first place is punitive! Only the people get the penalites.