Good news about SeniorCare

Over the past seven years Wisconsin seniors have had the ability to participate in SeniorCare, a prescription drug cost assistance program for individuals aged 65 and older. Without a doubt, Senior Care has become a popular and indispensable program that has enhanced the quality of life and improved the affordability of prescription drugs for thousands of Wisconsin senior citizens.

Because the federal program Medicare Part D is current law in the statute books, we must obtain a waiver every two years from the federal government to allow Wisconsin to operate SeniorCare in lieu of Medicare Part D. As a result of many bipartisan efforts, Wisconsin has been successful in renewing this waiver several times; the most recent renewal having resulted from a bill President George W. Bush signed in 2007, thus extending SeniorCare until Dec. 31, 2009.

I am pleased to inform you that a recent bipartisan effort has led to yet another extension of Senior Care. We have recently learned that Wisconsin has been granted a waiver to operate SeniorCare through 2012. This is good news for the nearly 90,000 Wisconsin seniors enrolled in this great cost-savings prescription drug program.

As a supporter of the SeniorCare program, I will continue my efforts at ensuring the continuation of this program. Based on the conversations I have had with area residents, it is my understanding that SeniorCare is easier to participate in than the federal program, is better administered and offers more options in regard to current prescriptions.

SeniorCare also makes good financial sense. The annual combined state and federal cost per SeniorCare enrollee is $908, making it much lower than the average Medicare Part D beneficiary cost of $1,690. This alone accounts for a substantial annual savings to taxpayers at both the state and federal level. The numbers and the quality of service simply add up in favor of SeniorCare, and it is my pleasure to ensure that this important program continues.

If you would like to learn more about Wisconsin’s SeniorCare program, I would encourage you to visithttp://dhs.wisconsin.gov/ seniorcare/index.htm. You may also learn about SeniorCare eligibility and enrollment by calling the toll-free SeniorCare customer service line at (800) 657-2038. If you have ideas for improving the program, please contact me.

As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you. Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling (888) 295-8750, writing to me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at Sen.Leibham@legis.wi.gov. You can also logon to the 9th Senate District online office at www.leibhamsenate.com. It is an honor representing the residents of the 9th District in the State Senate.