The recently announced extension of Wisconsin's SeniorCare program is great news for our senior citizens. This wildly popular program saves older adults in Wisconsin on prescription drugs and is widely regarded as a much stronger than the Federal Medicare Part D program that was set to replace it at the end of this year barring the federal action. Last year the Bush administration refused the extension of SeniorCare, but the new Obama administration granted a three-year extension to carry the program through 2012. This announcement was made last week in Sun Prairie.
The program, unlike any other in the country, allows about 90,000 elderly residents to purchase low-cost prescription drugs. The enrollment is much easier than the federal counterpart to the program, and SeniorCare saves residents more on their prescriptions. In 2007, the Wisconsin congressional delegation added language to a war spending bill to extend SeniorCare, but the language was refused by former President Bush.
Because Wisconsin negotiates $50 million annually in discounts with drug companies, SeniorCare costs the federal government significantly less than Medicare part D does - $588 per participant rather than the $1,700 for Part D. This state-run insurance program saves money for the state and federal government, as well as participants. SeniorCare should be considered a model as the federal government considers how to solve the health care crisis at the national level. Wisconsin grew SeniorCare out of a split house Legislature and it always has been a popular initiative among many constituencies. Although originally opposed by many legislators and then Governor McCallum, as well as pharmaceutical companies, the program has earned support throughout business community and citizen groups because of its success at saving money for both the participants and the state.
SeniorCare Eligibility Requirements Include:
1. Must be a Wisconsin resident.
2. Must be 65 years of age or older.
3. Must pay a $30 annual enrollment fee per person.
4. Only income is measured. Assets, such as bank accounts, insurance policies, home property, etc., are not counted.
While SeniorCare enrollment is not available by county, here is Census data for people over 65:
• Dane County: 49,763 people over 65 years old or older, 9.7 percent of the population
• Green County: 2,438 people over 65 years old or older, 14.8 percent of total population
• Lafayette County: 985 people 65 years old or older, 16.1 percent of total population
• Rock County: 12, 230 people 65 years old or older, 13.1 percent of total population
If you have a family member or neighbor that may qualify for SeniorCare, please contact my office for an application. For more information on SeniorCare, including information on enrollment, contact my office at 888-549-0027 or (608) 266-6670 or via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach,
D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District.
The program, unlike any other in the country, allows about 90,000 elderly residents to purchase low-cost prescription drugs. The enrollment is much easier than the federal counterpart to the program, and SeniorCare saves residents more on their prescriptions. In 2007, the Wisconsin congressional delegation added language to a war spending bill to extend SeniorCare, but the language was refused by former President Bush.
Because Wisconsin negotiates $50 million annually in discounts with drug companies, SeniorCare costs the federal government significantly less than Medicare part D does - $588 per participant rather than the $1,700 for Part D. This state-run insurance program saves money for the state and federal government, as well as participants. SeniorCare should be considered a model as the federal government considers how to solve the health care crisis at the national level. Wisconsin grew SeniorCare out of a split house Legislature and it always has been a popular initiative among many constituencies. Although originally opposed by many legislators and then Governor McCallum, as well as pharmaceutical companies, the program has earned support throughout business community and citizen groups because of its success at saving money for both the participants and the state.
SeniorCare Eligibility Requirements Include:
1. Must be a Wisconsin resident.
2. Must be 65 years of age or older.
3. Must pay a $30 annual enrollment fee per person.
4. Only income is measured. Assets, such as bank accounts, insurance policies, home property, etc., are not counted.
While SeniorCare enrollment is not available by county, here is Census data for people over 65:
• Dane County: 49,763 people over 65 years old or older, 9.7 percent of the population
• Green County: 2,438 people over 65 years old or older, 14.8 percent of total population
• Lafayette County: 985 people 65 years old or older, 16.1 percent of total population
• Rock County: 12, 230 people 65 years old or older, 13.1 percent of total population
If you have a family member or neighbor that may qualify for SeniorCare, please contact my office for an application. For more information on SeniorCare, including information on enrollment, contact my office at 888-549-0027 or (608) 266-6670 or via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach,
D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District.
