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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Prescription Drug Benefit Event
The Open Door Project
Chinatown/ New York City
Monday, November 14, 2005
Thank you, Commissioner Santiago [Edwin Mendez-Santiago, New York City
Department for the Aging]. I am pleased to be here to help the Asian
American community learn about this important new prescription drug
benefit.
We are here today because we don't want the Chinese American community to
miss out on this new program. It can help seniors over 65 years of age purchase
their medicine at a reduced cost.
Here's how you can sign up.
Starting tomorrow, November 15th, you can call a special toll-free number
set up for those who speak Mandarin and Cantonese. It is 1-800-582-4218.
If you have Internet access on a computer, you can sign up beginning November
15th at www.Medicare.gov.
Or you can talk to the counselors who will be available here at the center,
all day long. You can tell them what medicines you take. And they can help
you decide which plan is best for you.
There are several different plans and they are complicated. So don't be
afraid to ask the counselors for help.
Once you sign up, you can get benefits as soon as January 1st, 2006. So
don't delay.
President Bush created this program because he shares the deep appreciation,
love and respect that our community has for our parents, and for all elderly
members of our society. And he wants to ensure that they live healthier,
happier and longer lives.
This new program will help you and your families take better care of your
parents, by reducing the amount of money they pay for their medications.
The experts who created the program believe it can cut the cost of your medicine
by half. So, I encourage everyone to help us spread the word to your families,
friends and neighbors.
Thank you for allowing us to visit with you today.
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