[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 17, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H2647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE BENEFITS OF THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I am excited about the benefits of the 
Medicare D prescription drug plan. I have two stories I would like to 
relate to you and to my colleagues.
  I have one lady who is saving $24,000 a year by now taking part in 
Medicare part D. For the first time in years, she now is back on the 
road driving because she couldn't afford to buy automobile insurance. 
So not only is she saving money, but she is now free again to take part 
in activities that she for so long put aside.
  Another HIV-positive disabled individual is saving $15,000 a year 
accessing the Medicare D prescription drug plan.
  So it is a plan that is working. For those that did not sign up, I 
would encourage our seniors to continue to investigate it. At the most, 
it will be an additional $25 premium if they sign up in May. And if you 
are low income, there is never a penalty. Low-income seniors who take 
access even now will never pay a Medicare D prescription drug penalty, 
because the program was designed for the poorest of all seniors so they 
wouldn't have to make a choice between food and prescription drugs.




                          ____________________