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What is AARP doing to
get the best bill for its members?
Why is the
Conference Committee taking so long?
When is Congress going
to release the final bill?
Isn't passing no bill
better than this one?
What is AARP's
position on the Medicare prescription drug
legislation?
What will the bill
do to my Medicaid benefits? State pharmacy assistance
benefits? Medigap? Medicare+Choice?
What about my retiree
health benefits?
Answers to Questions about Medicare Prescription Drug Legislation
Q: What is AARP doing to get the best bill
for its members?
A: AARP has been working with both Democrats and Republicans to
get the best possible Medicare prescription drug benefit and
prevent any changes that would harm the Medicare program.
Our volunteers and members organized and participated in
letter-writing and phone calls to legislators, face-to-face
contacts, town hall meetings, and a national rally to let their
elected officials know what they wanted in a drug bill.
Congress has heard them, and that is one reason that a
prescription drug benefit for Medicare is a top priority.
Q: Why is the Conference Committee
taking so long?
A: The members of the Conference Committee (those responsible
for hashing out the differences between the House and Senate
bills) have been working diligently to hammer out the
differences between the two bills. Congressional staff has been
working through many of the details, but the progress has been
slow. The legislation is complex, and a number of unresolved
issues still remain.
Q: When is Congress going to release the
final bill?
A: We don't know. The Conference Committee continues to meet on
a daily basis and are under tremendous pressure to report out a
final bill before Thanksgiving.
Q: Isn't passing no bill better than this
one?
A: AARP and our members have been working for years to get a
Medicare prescription drug benefit enacted into law. We believe
that Congress has the opportunity to make progress and produce
a bill that while far from perfect, will help millions of
Medicare beneficiaries.
This legislation is also a foundation that we can build on over
time. Again, this legislation represents the beginning of the
process - not the end.
Q: What is AARP's position on the
Medicare prescription drug legislation?
A: AARP's Board of Directors will make a decision once they
have enough information to make a judgment on the final
package.
Q: What will the bill do to my Medicaid
benefits? State pharmacy assistance benefits? Medigap?
Medicare+Choice?
A: The Medicare prescription drug benefit will not be available
until 2006. If the legislation passes, you will have time to
make enrollment choices. We won't know details about how the
Medicare legislation will affect these programs until
legislative language is released.
Q: What about my retiree health
benefits?
A: AARP and others have been lobbying Congress to make sure
that employers do not cancel their retiree health benefits.
Conferees are considering several incentives for employers to
keep their retiree health coverage.