In a continuation of his Initiative on Aging: To Life!, Miami-Dade County (Florida) Mayor Carlos Alvarez encouraged all of Miami-Dade County’s Medicare beneficiaries to look into Medicare’s new coverage for prescription medicines during a news conference hosted by the Alliance for Aging, Inc. The Mayor’s remarks were made at the Miami Beach Wellness Expo, which featured 300 Miami-area seniors who came to learn about improving their health and quality of life.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), more than 2.2 million Floridians with Medicare have drug coverage and throughout the country, more than 30 million Americans with Medicare now have drug coverage.

“Local events like the Miami Beach Wellness Expo are a great source of information for Miami’s seniors,” said Mayor Carlos Alvarez. “It was another opportunity for me to speak with seniors throughout Miami-Dade County about Medicare’s new drug coverage. I am confident that today’s Expo accomplished our goal of educating Miami’s seniors so they have the information necessary to understand Medicare’s new drug plan choices.”

Enrollment in Medicare’s new drug coverage began November 15, 2005, and continues until May 15, 2006. With nearly two weeks left before the 2006 enrollment deadline, it is important that all Medicare beneficiaries are well informed about how Medicare drug coverage can help them access the medicines they need and potentially save them money on their health care costs.

“Since enrollment for Medicare’s new drug coverage began last November, enrollment has been a great success,” said Hugo Huapaya, Medicare Representative, CMS. “We need to dedicate ourselves to educating all Medicare beneficiaries in the remaining two weeks of the 2006 enrollment period so every person with Medicare has the opportunity to take advantage of Medicare’s new drug coverage. I also want to commend Mayor Alvarez and the Alliance on Aging for their support in helping to inform people with Medicare about the new choices.”

Shedding personal light on the new Medicare drug benefit was Miami-Dade senior and beneficiary Ms. Alice Simms. “The Medicare drug benefit is something that I encourage my friends to enroll in,” said Ms. Simms. “I personally appreciate the better selection in drugs that is available to me through Medicare and the peace of mind in knowing that my prescription drug needs are covered.”

Also joining Mayor Alvarez for today’s event was Robert Schwartz, M.D., Chair of Family Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine and member of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians (FAFP).

“At the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, we work to promote excellence and improvement in the health of all Floridians,” said Schwartz. “We applaud Mayor Alvarez for hosting today’s event and believe seniors can achieve better health by adopting an active lifestyle and choosing a prescription drug plan that best fits their needs. I hope the people here today will take this information home to family and friends so together they can work through the enrollment process.”

The Miami Beach Wellness Expo is one event in the 2006 Mayor’s Initiative on Aging program that is geared towards senior citizens. In addition to receiving information on Medicare’s new drug benefit, seniors were able to participate in tai chi classes, aerobics, and blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.

Informational materials, in English and Spanish, were available at the Wellness Expo. For more information on the new Medicare drug benefit, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit http://www.medicare.gov/. This number is available 24 hours a day, including holidays. This press conference was supported by Pfizer.

The Mayor’s Initiative on Aging would not be possible without the generous commitment of our sponsors including our presenting sponsor, Unvision 23, our gold sponsor, HCA Healthcare, which includes Kendall Regional Medical Center, Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, and Cedars Medical Center, our silver sponsors: Pfizer, VISTA Health Plan, The Alliance for Aging and the Medicare Prescription Network of Florida, and bronze sponsors including the American Heart Association, Health Foundation of South Florida, Humana, LifeMasters, United Healthcare and Zuni Transportation.

Alliance for Aging, Inc. works to enable older persons to lead meaningful and dignified lives in their living environment and communities by providing leadership, direction and support for a comprehensive continuum of aging and long term care services.

The Florida Academy of Family Physicians (FAFP) is Florida’s medical specialty association composed of more than 4,000 family medicine physicians, residents, and medical students from across the state. The mission of the FAFP is to promote excellence in health care for Florida citizens, to advance and represent the specialty of family medicine, and to serve the unique needs of all its members. Through communication, legislation/regulation, education, advocacy, research and motivation, the FAFP helps its members to become the best family physicians they can be.

Website: http://www.medicare.gov

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