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BETHLEHEM (Oct 13) –
State Senator Lisa Boscola today
assured area PACE/PACENET
cardholders that their benefits are
secure and will NOT change as a
result of the new Medicare
prescription drug benefit that
begins in January of 2006.
“PACE/PACENET cardholders should
carefully review any information
they receive about the new Medicare
prescription drug benefit,” Boscola
said. “However, they should know
that PACE/PACENET will continue to
offer the same coverage as they have
in the past – no changes.”
The PACE/PACENET
programs are funded by the
Pennsylvania Lottery and
administered by the Pennsylvania
Department of Aging. These programs
offer comprehensive prescription
coverage to older Pennsylvanians and
cover most medications that require
prescriptions, including insulin,
syringes and insulin needles. These
programs do not cover
over-the-counter medicines, medical
equipment or doctor, hospital,
dental or vision services. There
are no premiums or monthly fees
charged to people who enroll in
these programs.
As long as the PACE/PACENET
cardholder remains enrolled
in the PACE/PACENET program, they
will not be subject to any premium
penalties if they do not enroll and
select a Medicare drug plan by May
15, 2006.
Boscola said
that area senior citizens should
expect to receive “mountains of
information” about the new Medicare
prescription drug benefit in the
months ahead.
“All of this
information may be overwhelming for
some people. But, they need to
understand that if they are happy
with their current benefit, they
don’t have to enroll in the Medicare
drug plan,” Boscola said. “This
misconception is being promoted by
some of the Medicare drug plan
providers and needs to be clarified
for our residents.”
Over the next
few months, the Pennsylvania
Department of Aging will be working
with selected Medicare prescription
drug plans to offer a combined
benefit that will enable PACE/PACENET
to continue to offer prescription
benefits to eligible
Pennsylvanians. Details on these
plans will be announced later this
year, Boscola said.
For information
on the PACE/PACENET program, or for
questions or concerns, please feel
free to contact one of Senator
Boscola’s offices in Bethlehem (610)
868-8667, Stroudsburg (570) 420-2938
or Whitehall (610) 266-2117.
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