June 5th, 2008
Yesterday, State Rep. Joe Brennan (D-Lehigh) introduced legislation that would expand eligibility for the state’s PACE and PACENET prescription assistance programs for seniors.
Text of Rep. Brennan’s press release announcing the bill reads:
Under current law, senior citizens and others applying for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program can exclude half of their Social Security or federal railroad retirement Tier 1 benefits from their income calculation. However, seniors applying for prescription assistance under PACE or PACENET must count all of their income. Both programs are funded by the state lottery. The legislation Brennan has introduced (H.B. 2585) would allow seniors applying for PACE and PACENET to exclude a portion of their Social Security or federal railroad retirement income, just as with the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. “With the poor state of our current national economy and the continued rising costs of prescription drugs, we owe it to our senior citizens to make certain that prescription assistance is available to all those in need,” Brennan said. “The Social Security and federal railroad retirement exclusion in the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program makes about 180,000 seniors eligible for the program who otherwise would not be. We need to do the same for seniors applying for PACE and PACENET.” In addition, Brennan’s bill would allow federal retirees who are ineligible to receive Social Security benefits to exclude half of their federal retirement benefits when applying for PACE and PACENET, beginning with the 2007 income year. Legislation has already been introduced in the House to allow this same exclusion for federal retirees applying for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program if they are ineligible for Social Security benefits.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
This is a much needed bill to help senior citizens be able to obtain the medical drugs they need to survive. With the insurance continuing to increase insurance premiums while at the same time reducing benefits from their policies. Many seniors will soon be faced with a decision whether or not to buy drugs they need or food. As a senior in this position I applaud Rep. Joe Brennan for his efforts and hope the Pa legislature will enact this bill. None of our legislators will ever have to make the decision food or drugs!!
December 29th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I am one of the PA Sr.citizens who has benefited in 2009 from the Pacenet Program. I will loose this in 2010 being just under $500 over the limit. Raising the income limits would help me and thousands of others in PA. Reaching the Medicare D donut hole by May puts me in the position of either paying full price for my medications, deciding to cut back on food purchases, and frequently skipping doses of medicine—all of which I have had to do in the past. The small increase in Soc.Sec. for 2009 makes me loose the benefit of Pacenet for next year. Increasing the limits or being able to exclude some of the federal retirement benefits would help many seniors deal with the high cost of medications. I am hoping that some one in the state will consider being of assistance to many senior citizens in this matter.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I ALSO WILL BE LOOSING MY MUCH NEEDED PACE NET IN 2010. I AM A 75 YEAR OLD SR., WHO IS IN POOR HEALTH, WITH COPD, AND CAD. I DEPEND ON SIX (6) RX. EACH MONTH, IN THE TREATMENT FOR MY LUNGS, AND ARTERIES, AND HEART. NO WAY COULD I EVER AFFORD BUYING THESE ON MY OWN, WITH MY SLIGHTLY ABOVE POVERTY INCOME. I ENCOURAGE ALL PA. REPS., AND SENATORS, TO INTRODUCE, AND SUPPORT, EITHER A HIGHER MAXIUM FOR PACE NET, OR TO CLAIM ONLY HALF OF OUR S.S. YEARLY INCOME. PLEASE DO IT NOW, BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YESTERDAY. THANK YOU. “HURRY”