Madison, WI - On Wednesday, August 8, 2012, the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans hosted State Representative Mark Pocan at the Madison Senior Center to announce his plan to take Wisconsin’s SeniorCare plan nation-wide. SeniorCare has given Wisconsin seniors affordable access to quality prescription drugs for 10 years.

Representative Pocan is a champion of retirement security. In 1999 Mark co-authored the original bill and later voted for the bill that became SeniorCare. 95,000 Wisconsin seniors are now covered by this affordable prescription drug program which covers the donut hole (Part D) of the Federal government’s Medicare program.

Medicare requires seniors to have a supplemental insurance plan which covers Part D. The cost for a senior to get this coverage through Medicare or other private insurance can be much more expensive than getting this coverage through SeniorCare.

SeniorCare has 3 income tiers covering low, modest and middle income seniors for a nominal annual enrollment fee of $30, with co-payments ranging from $5 to $15 and no gaps in coverage. SeniorCare provides more comprehensive and less expensive coverage than Medicare Part D.

Wisconsin is the only state in the nation with a SeniorCare program. Through SeniorCare, the State of Wisconsin negotiates prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical corporations. Under SeniorCare, drug company rebates go to Wisconsin and result in lower costs to the taxpayer.

Not only do Wisconsin residents benefit from SeniorCare’s low rates, but our state government realizes substantial cost savings with this plan. SeniorCare and other Wisconsin Department of Human Services prescription drug programs generated $239.6 million in drug company rebates in 2010.

In 2009, the average annual federal cost per enrollee for SeniorCare was $588, less than half the $1,690 the federal government spent to subsidize a Medicare Part D participant. When this plan is implemented at the federal level, $90 billion would be saved annually.

Representative Pocan has practical experience to introduce this plan to Congress. Through his participation on Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee, he has expanded health care for Wisconsin citizens. Now 98% of Wisconsin’s children and families have access to health care, including preventive care.

Uncertainty for seniors’ Part D coverage will be eased once SeniorCare is instituted at the Federal level. As was Senator Kohl’s goal in the past, Representative Pocan seeks to expand health care options and make health care affordable and accessible for everyone.

-- Caroline Werner