[SeniorTaskForce-News] For Senior Task Force: MMW Alert - Illinois Cares Rx

[Rosanna McLain]

For your consideration.

 

As you remember, part of the mission of the Senior Task Force is to give
people an opportunity to advocate for issues of importance to older
adults.  There is a lot of legislation and budgeting decisions being
made right now.  I will continue to share with you the information I
receive so that you can make more informed decisions about what things
are important to you and what you need to do about the decisions our
state and federal governments are preparing to make.

 

Rosanna 

________________________________

From: Michael O'Donnell [mailto:MODonnell at eciaaa.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 6:03 PM

Subject: FW: MMW Alert - Illinois Cares Rx

 

MEMO TO:          Service Providers and Advocates for Illinois Seniors
in Area 05

FROM:                  Mike O'Donnell

DATE:                    March 8, 2011

RE:                          Alert from the Make Medicare Works
Coalition on Illinois Cares Rx

 

From: Terri Gendel [mailto:terri.gendel at ageoptions.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 2:36 PM
To: 'Stephanie Altman'
Cc: Terri Gendel
Subject: MMW Alert - Illinois Cares Rx

 

Dear Coalition Member -

 

As you know, the Governor's proposed budget includes the elimination of
the Illinois Cares Rx program.   The time is NOW to call your
legislators and talk with your networks, constituents and policymakers
about this. Here are a couple of tools to get you started.

 

*         The Chicago Tribune published the following story today
including the cuts to Illinois Cares Rx and the Circuit Breaker program
and how the elimination of these programs affects an already very
vulnerable group of older adults and people with disabilities. Please
share this article with your networks. 
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-illinois-retirement-inco
me-tax20110307,0,141510.story

 

*         Many meetings and hearings are going on this week in
Springfield. Health & Disability Advocates has submitted the attached
written testimony to the Senate and House Appropriation Committees. You
can use this testimony in your conversations with your legislators.

 

When you call, be prepared with a few sentences briefly telling your
legislators how you feel about the elimination of the program and what
it means to the people you serve.

 

A few key talking points are:

 

*         Illinois Cares Rx serves over 200,000 low income older adults
and people with disabilities each year to pay for necessary and costly
medications that are not covered by Medicaid or Medicare.

 

*         Governor Quinn has proposed eliminating the entire program
without seeking cost savings from other measures first.

 

*         The health care reform law - the Affordable Care Act - did not
fix this problem. It only addressed the Medicare Part D donut hole by
closing that gap slowly over the next several years. Low- income older
adults and people with disabilities still need help paying for premiums,
co-pays and donut hole coverage in 2011 and beyond.

 

We will keep you informed as the budget discussion moves forward and
look forward to seeing many of you at the MMW Summit on Friday.  

 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us:

Stephanie Altman, Health & Disability Advocates at 
saltman at hdadvocates.org or 

Terri Gendel, AgeOptions at terri.gendel at ageoptions.org .   

 

 

Terri Gendel, Director, Benefits & Advocacy

AgeOptions 

1048 Lake Street, Suite 300  

Oak Park, IL 60301

phone (708)383-0258   fax (708)524-0870

Terri.gendel at ageoptions.org

Ageoptions.org
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\gendel\Application%20Data\Microso
ft\Signatures\ageoptions.org>  

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