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President Bush has worked to modernize Medicare to offer seniors more choices, better benefits and the choice to stay with the current coverage they enjoy today.
More Choices – Better Benefits
And the Choice to Stay with the Coverage For Seniors Today.
More Choices - Seniors have more choices in health care. Seniors are able to choose the health care plan that best fits their needs – instead of having that choice made by the government.
Better Benefits - Under a modernized Medicare, seniors can sign up to receive a prescription drug card offering a $600 benefit and discounts on their prescription drug purchases. Seniors will receive better coverage for preventive care (e.g.; a “welcome to Medicare” physical that would include a screening for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as immunizations against pneumonia and the flu).
The Choice to Stay with Current Coverage - Seniors can choose to stay in traditional Medicare and still get prescription drug coverage. Some seniors will have the opportunity to select plans with lower costs and more options. They can choose a new Medicare-approved private plan where the drug benefit is integrated into broader medical coverage, including disease management programs and protections against high out-of-pocket medical spending.
New Freedom Initiative
- The President proposed $1.75 billion from FY 2005 through FY 2009 for the “Money Follows the Individual Rebalancing Demonstration.” This program will help states develop the infrastructure needed to reform their systems and provide more community options for people on Medicare. This five-year initiative will also assist people transitioning from institutions to the community.
- The Money Follows the Individual demonstration will create a more equitable balance between institutional and community-based services spending; increase the responsiveness and cost-effectiveness of the system; and increase the amount of control individuals are able to exert over service choices.
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