Goode News for February 22, 2006

Goode News for February 22, 2006

Health care continues to be an important issue in America, and a bill that I have introduced in the House of Representatives seeks to help assure that those who do not have medical insurance are covered in case they suffer a catastrophic illness.

The bill is HR 1098 and is known as the American LIFE Fund for the Medical Treatment of the Uninsured Act. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals to designate any portion of a federal income tax refund for use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in providing catastrophic health coverage to individuals who do not otherwise have health coverage. The legislation is based upon Virginia's Uninsured Medical Catastrophe Fund, which was first offered to state taxpayers in December 2002 and is administered by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. In the case of my proposed legislation, the fund would be administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Virginia fund was based upon the case of a woman from the Fifth District who had cancer for more than a year but was left untreated because she was uninsured.

The fund would help a few of the millions of the uninsured in this country. In creating a voluntary check-off on federal income tax returns, each taxpayer may choose to make a voluntary contribution to a fund to provide medical treatment for the uninsured. Each taxpayer may divert any amount of his or her refund (a $1minimum) to the fund. The taxpayer will check a box and fill in the amount that he or she wishes to contribute. The fund applies only to refunds. The IRS will not collect any additional money from taxpayers on behalf of the fund, and The American LIFE Fund will not add cost to the Federal Treasury, nor will it increase the budget deficit.

Donations will be used to help pay for medical care for uninsured Americans who are currently diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses and have no way to Pay for medical care. Regulations will prevent insured individuals who have already been diagnosed from canceling their insurance and getting money from the fund. In addition, regulations will prevent other types of fraud.

Also where health care is concerned, persons are continuing to sign up for the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Known as Medicare Part D, this plan is designed to help seniors and the disabled to be able to afford the prescription medications that they need to maintain their quality of life. According to information from CMS, about four million persons have enrolled voluntarily in the new Medicare drug benefit and roughly 24 million others are automatically receiving coverage through an integrated health plan or their employer. In total, 24 million seniors are now receiving help with their prescription drug costs.

For seniors with limited means, additional help is available. About one-third of all persons with Medicare qualify for extra assistance that will cover between 85 percent and almost 100 percent of prescription drug costs. More than one million low-income seniors have been approved for the extra financial assistance.

If you have not enrolled in the new prescription drug plan and have questions, you may contact Jennifer Moorefield in my Danville office by calling 1-800-535-4008.

Please keep in touch with me on issues that are important to you. You may write Congressman Virgil Goode, 70 East Court Street, Rocky Mount, Virginia, 24151; or fax to the Rocky Mount office, 1-540-484-1459; or call the Danville office, toll-free, 1-800-535-4008.

http://www.house.gov/goode/20060222.shtml