    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [May 6, 2006]
    [Pages 866-867]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    May 6, 2006

        Good morning. Today I want to talk with you about the new Medicare
    prescription drug coverage that went into effect at the start of this
    year. Everyone on Medicare is eligible for this new coverage, but the
    enrollment deadline of May 15th is just over a week away. For those of
    you with Medicare who have not yet signed up, it is important for you to
    review your options and choose a plan. By enrolling before the deadline,
    you can ensure the lowest possible premiums and start saving on your
    prescription drug bills.
        Many of you have already made the wise decision to enroll. Since the
    new coverage went into effect, more than 30 million Americans now have
    prescription drug coverage through the Medicare program, and more are
    enrolling each week. Recent surveys show that the vast majority of
    seniors are satisfied with the program and for good reason.
        Competition in the prescription drug market has been stronger than
    expected, and costs for seniors are lower than expected. The average
    premium that seniors pay is a third less than had been expected--just
    $25 per month instead of $37 per month. The typical person with Medicare
    who previously had no drug coverage will now spend about half of what he
    or she used to spend on prescription drugs, saving an average of $1,100
    per year.
        Low-income seniors receive extra help. For them Medicare will now
    cover, on average, more than 95 percent of the costs of their
    prescription drugs. Thanks to this new coverage, America's seniors are
    now getting the modern medicine they need at prices they can afford.
        Prescription drug coverage under Medicare is also giving our seniors
    more and better choices for their health care. Instead of having to
    accept a one-size-fits-all plan, seniors are now choosing from a variety
    of drug plans, and they're finding the one that best fits their needs.
    Most seniors are able to choose their plans that have low premiums, low
    or no deductibles, fixed copayments for most drugs, and affordable
    coverage to fill in coverage gaps.
        Medicare prescription drug coverage is a great deal for seniors. So
    today I am encouraging those of you who still have not enrolled to take
    a look at your options and sign up before the May 15th deadline, in
    order to ensure the lowest premiums. Even if you do not have significant
    drug expenses now, you should consider joining a Medicare drug plan to
    protect yourself against high prescription drug bills down the road.

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        There are many ways you can get help to choose a drug plan and
    enroll. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for help. You can speak
    with a Medicare counselor 24 hours a day at 1-800-MEDICARE. You can
    enroll online by visiting the official Medicare web site at
    medicare.gov. If you need help enrolling, citizens' groups like AARP and
    NAACP, faith-based organizations, health professionals, and pharmacies
    are working to answer questions. Between now and May 15th, events will
    be held across the country to answer your questions and help you enroll
    for the new drug coverage. And if you have family or friends on
    Medicare, you can help too. Helping can be as simple as showing an older
    neighbor how to fill out a form, helping a senior use the Internet, or
    making a call for your mom or dad.
        I was proud to sign Medicare prescription drug coverage into law.
    Because we acted, America now has a Medicare system to fit the needs of
    the 21st century, and millions of American seniors and persons with
    disabilities are now saving a lot of money and receiving the modern
    health care they deserve. Over the coming days, we will continue working
    to make sure that everyone with Medicare has a chance to save money and
    enjoy the peace of mind that this new drug coverage brings.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on May 5 in the Cabinet Room
    at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 6. The transcript
    was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on May 5 but was
    embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.