Medicare Prescription Drug Card: Estimates of Beneficiaries Who Qualify for Transitional Assistance

Publication Date: July 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Health

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Abstract:

The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173) established a prescription drug benefit that begins in 2006. Until then, Medicare beneficiaries may select one of the Medicare-endorsed prescription drug discount cards that became available in June 2004. Certain low-income beneficiaries may be eligible for up to $600 in "transitional assistance" in 2004 and again in 2005. This report provides estimates of the number of noninstitutionalized Medicare beneficiaries who meet the eligibility criteria for the transitional assistance. Nationally, 6.7 million noninstitutionalized beneficiaries are estimated to be eligible for the transitional assistance. Numbers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have actual enrollment for transitional assistance at 1,253,132, as of October 1, 2004. This report will be updated to reflect new legislation or data.