FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2004
Alaska Legislature passes SeniorCare bill
Governor Murkowski thanks Legislature for taking prompt action to help seniors.
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Governor Murkowski today thanked the Alaska Legislature for passing SeniorCare (HB 374), a program that will help more than 10,0000 Alaskan seniors with drug subsidies of up to $1,600 a year to assist in the purchase of needed medications. “I think the Legislators saw the need for this and took the right action, and I sincerely appreciate their quick response to this proposal,” Governor Murkowski said. “I look forward to signing this bill because Alaska now has a bridge for those seniors most in need of assistance until the full Medicare prescription drug benefit begins in January 2006,” he said.
The program is slated to begin April 1, 2004. Once implemented, seniors currently receiving the Alaska Senior Assistance Program will be offered a choice to continue receiving the cash assistance of $120 a month instead of the drug coverage. The program also includes a new Senior Information Office and a Preferred Drug List to make prescription drugs more affordable.
Seniors who qualify
for the Senior Assistance Program (65 and older and 135 percent
of the poverty level), and who are not receiving
comprehensive Medicaid prescription drug coverage will be provided
a choice – between the new SeniorCare prescription drug subsidy
of $1,600 a year or to continue to receive the Senior Assistance
Program cash assistance of $1,440 a year. Together with the $600
Medicare subsidy to begin this spring, these eligible seniors opting
for the SeniorCare prescription drug benefit will have a combined
drug subsidy of $2,200 a year. Seniors who are receiving Medicaid
prescription drug coverage will be able to continue receiving the
cash assistance of $120 per month.
Currently those seniors who qualify for the Senior Assistance Program
earn less than $15,701 annually, or if living with a spouse, earn
less than $21,074. To qualify, some assets are considered in the
overall needs test.
Additionally, seniors between 135 percent and
150 percent of poverty level will receive a prescription drug
benefit of $1,000 a year.
The qualifying income level for these seniors would be those
making below $17,445 for an individual or $23,415 for a couple.
These
qualifying figures are based on new federal poverty guidelines
effective April 1 2004.
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For more information, please contact
Sherry Hill
Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Juneau Office: (907) 465-1618
Anchorage: (907) 269-7800
Cell: (907) 321-2838
Email: sherry_hill@health.state.ak.usJeff Kasper
Project Director
Juneau Office: (907) 465-8194
Email: jeff_kasper@health.state.ak.us
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