Lofgren Calls for Extension of Medicare Part D Enrollment Deadline
Media Contact: Kyra Jennings, 202.225.3072, kyra.jennings@mail.house.gov
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) echoed Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and more than 200 seniors today who held an event calling for an extension of the enrollment deadline for the Medicare prescription drug program.
“It is simply unfair to impose the May 15th deadline and the minimum lifetime penalty of 7 percent when there are millions of eligible beneficiaries who have still not signed up for a plan,” said Rep. Lofgren. “California’s seniors should be given the time to make an informed decision without this stiff lifetime penalty, especially given the confusing nature and botched rollout of the Medicare Part D program.”
With the enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug plan set to expire next Monday, May 15, California’s seniors run the risk of paying the price for the confusing and complicated program. At the event, Democrats again called on Republicans to extend the deadline and avoid punishing seniors for mistakes made by the White House and Republican led Congress.
Lofgren is also co-sponsor of H.R. 3861, the Medicare Informed Choice Act. This bill would ease the implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug program and extend the enrollment period through December 31, 2006.
