[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 57 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H2507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EXTENDING THE MEDICARE PART D DEADLINE

  (Mr. BISHOP of New York asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, with only 5 days before the 
deadline to sign up for the Medicare drug benefit, only 9 percent of 
eligible New Yorkers have voluntarily signed up for it.
  Why such low enrollment? Could it be that seniors have to choose 
among 47 plans that keep changing? It is a daunting task to tackle a 
moving target.
  Could it be that a third of the calls answered by Medicare operators 
result in inaccurate information or none at all? Could there be a more 
clear-cut case for extending the sign-up deadline?
  Clearly, the President disagrees. To him, the ``D'' in part D stands 
for ``deadline.'' But he is not a senior or a disabled American who 
needs and deserves more time and for whom ``D'' stands for disaster.
  After holding dozens of town hall meetings over the past 6 months, I 
join with my colleagues today in calling upon the Republicans to extend 
the deadline, penalty free, through the end of the year.
  For nine of 10 eligible New Yorkers who haven't chosen a plan yet, 
but must pick from among 47 plans, another 6 months will go a long way 
toward helping them choose a plan that is right for them.

                          ____________________