Dear friend, it’s your Congresswoman, and I hope you are well. Election season is upon us, and I have information to help you. Myvote.wi.gov is a great resource to find your polling place, request an absentee ballot, and find your municipal clerk. Medicare open enrollment has also begun. Keep scrolling to find resources to help you find the best plan, along with holiday travel tips and information on free financial counseling for Milwaukee residents, and more.
Voting is an opportunity to make your voice heard in your community, and I hope you all do so in this election. There are many ways to cast your ballot including voting early, using an absentee ballot, and voting on Election Day, November 5th.
Early voting in Milwaukee starts October 22nd and ends November 3rd. Find early voting locations in Milwaukee here.
Key Election Deadlines for Wisconsin Voters
Visit this webpage here to begin the process of requesting an absentee ballot. See the graphic below for important voting deadlines for regular voters.
Need to find your municipal clerk? Click here.
Find important voting deadlines for military, hospitalized, indefinitely confined voters at myvote.wi.gov.
If you aren’t registered to vote yet, you can also register on Election Day. You will need a proof of residence document. See examples here.
Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15th and ends December 7th. This time is an opportunity to compare plans, ensure your prescriptions are in a plan’s formulary, and make sure your doctors are in network, review a plan’s total cost, and more. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048) for open enrollment or visit Medicare.gov.
If you need financial help covering your prescriptions, you could apply to Extra Help, which is a program that helps pay for Part D premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses. If you make less than $22,000 a year, I encourage you to apply. Go to ssa.gov/extrahelp or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to apply today.
I was proud to support cost-saving measures in the Inflation Reduction Act, which are already lowering health care costs for seniors on Medicare. In Wisconsin’s Fourth, 32,000 Medicare beneficiaries will save an estimated $6 million in prescription drug costs this year alone.
Many of my constituents will also benefit from capping the cost of insulin. There are 25,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Wisconsin’s Fourth with diabetes, including 9,300 who depend on daily shots of insulin. My constituents, along with millions of Americans across the country, will continue to save on medicines they need as Medicare continues to negotiate the price of vital prescription drugs in the coming years.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program Changes:
We are pleased to inform you of significant changes Social Security is making to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, effective September 30, 2024.
Please contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) as soon as possible, if you think these changes may affect you.
For more details, visit the Social Security blog.
Free Financial Counseling
Milwaukee residents can access free financial counseling through the City’s Financial Empowerment Center. Professional financial counselors are available to help residents of all incomes lower debt, save, and meet their personal goals. Call 414-882-7430 or visit this website to make an appointment.
Plan to Travel During the Holidays?
Make sure you check your passport’s expiration date, so you can begin the renewal process if necessary. See more details here.
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
October 20-26th is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. EPA has webinars this week to help inform Americans on lead and preventing lead exposure. Read more on lead exposure prevention measures you can take from the Milwaukee Health Department.
Need a COVID-19 or Flu Shot?
Milwaukee residents can get a free COVID-19 booster or flu shot at Milwaukee Health Department’s walk-in clinics. See hours and locations at their website.
My Office is Here to Help
As always, my office is here to help. If you need help with a federal matter, please don’t hesitate to call my district office at 414-297-1140.
Your friend,
Gwen
