[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 26263-26264]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            MEDICARE PART D

  (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage seniors across 
America to learn about Medicare part D, the new voluntary prescription 
drug benefit available to all seniors. Tuesday marked the first day 
seniors could enroll in Medicare part D. Enrollment continues through 
May 15, 2006, and coverage begins January 1, 2006.
  Finally, seniors in our communities will have better access to the 
medication they need to stay well. Seniors can sign up today by calling 
1-800-MEDICARE or by visiting the Web site www.medicare.gov. Seniors 
who want to sign up should have several pieces of information on hand: 
a list of the medications they are currently taking; information about 
any prescription drug coverage they may currently have, be it employer, 
union or a Medigap policy; the name and address of a local pharmacy 
they will use to fill prescriptions; the out-of-pocket amount they 
spend on prescription drugs each year; finally, seniors should have 
their Medicare enrollment information readily available.
  As a physician, I know that providing our seniors with prescription 
drug coverage will be beneficial to their health and to their wallets. 
I am glad Medicare now works to prevent disease as well as treat it.

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