Final Medicare Enrollment Effort Begins Monday Across the US

Final Medicare Enrollment Effort Begins Monday Across the U.S.

April 12, 2006 – With the deadline for enrollment for the Medicare drug program looming – May 15 – and new polls showing satisfaction with the program, a week-long grassroots effort is being held April 17-23 in all 50 states and Washington D.C. to help senior citizens get enrolled. Medicare Today, a national partnership of more than 400 organizations, today announced "Medicare Rx Get Enrolled Week." Medicare experts and volunteers will provide seniors with the information they need to make decisions about enrollment in Medicare's prescription drug benefit.

Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, joined Medicare Today members in announcing the activities being held in pharmacies, hospitals, senior centers, businesses, churches, synagogues and mosques -- all with experts on hand to answer questions and assist seniors with the enrollment process.

This intensive nationwide effort is coming a month before the current Medicare drug benefit early enrollment window closes.

Medicare Today also released a new poll showing that a large majority of seniors who have already enrolled in the new benefit found the enrollment process easier than they had heard, and a report prepared by the Lewin Group quantifying the reduced pharmaceutical costs seniors who have chronic conditions could see under the benefit.

"Seniors have only one month left before the deadline for early enrollment in the prescription drug benefit ends," said Mary R. Grealy, president of the Healthcare Leadership Council, which is coordinating Medicare Today's efforts.

"More and more seniors are signing up to participate in this new drug benefit, but millions of eligible seniors are still considering their options. We want to link seniors with trusted community experts to provide the objective information they need to evaluate their options and make a decision before the May 15 early enrollment deadline."

Medicare Today partners -- including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Easter Seals and others -- are providing consumers with nonpartisan, easy-to-understand information about Medicare's new prescription drug coverage.

Research released in conjunction with today's announcement shows that although nearly two-thirds of seniors surveyed had heard negative reports about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, those who have already enrolled found the process easier than they anticipated. More than seven out of 10 (73%) of those surveyed said that the enrollment process was "very easy" or "relatively easy." Additional findings include:

● Of those who have already enrolled, about three out of five (59%) said that the process was easier than they anticipated it would be.

● Of those who signed up without assistance, 89 percent said they experienced no problems with the enrollment process.

● More than seven in 10 enrollees have already tried to use the new benefit. Eighty-six percent of them report experiencing no difficulties in obtaining their prescriptions under the new benefit.

The survey also found, however, that negative media reports about the new prescription drug program are affecting some seniors' enrollment decisions. The poll found that 63 percent were aware of negative media stories regarding the drug benefit and, of that group, nearly half (45%) said they were less likely to enroll as a result of the stories.

The poll of 1,012 seniors was conducted on behalf of Medicare Today by American Viewpoint, an independent market research firm based in Alexandria, Va.

Research showing how much seniors enrolled in the benefit would pay for medications to treat common chronic conditions found significant cost savings in every state. The report looked at an enrollee's average cost -- given a range of plans available in the states -- for commonly prescribed drugs to treat arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis and respiratory illness.

The research found that 84 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have been diagnosed with one or more of these five conditions and could see significant savings on their prescription drugs. Nationwide, a Medicare beneficiary with one of these five common conditions could cut costs by more than half (58%) for their prescription drugs.

The research was conducted on behalf of Medicare Today by the Lewin Group, a nonpartisan healthcare and human services research and consulting firm.

The research shows that even those who currently have prescription drug coverage could benefit under the new Medicare program. Without question, however, those who stand to benefit most are those who are currently paying for their prescriptions out-of-pocket.

"Medicare Rx Get Enrolled Week" Events Planned in Every State

Medicare Today organizers are planning hundreds of events in communities nationwide during the Week to reach seniors and provide individualized counsel and resources. Activities include:

* Presentations held in conjunction with community organizations, such as senior centers, Rotary clubs, service organizations and local patient support groups;

* Informational materials distributed in grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, physician offices, health clubs and retirement communities; and

* Coordinated efforts with federal, state and local elected officials to conduct Town Hall meetings to fully explain the benefits.

"We don't want to see any seniors leaving savings on the table," said Ms. Grealy. "The next month is critical in giving beneficiaries the information they need to take advantage of this valuable program."

For a complete list of "Medicare Rx Get Enrolled Week" activities, visit http://www.medicaretoday.org/.

Medicare Today is a broad-based partnership of organizations representing seniors, patients, health care groups, employers, and others. The mission of this nonpartisan partnership is to educate and inform Medicare beneficiaries and the public at large about the new benefits provided through The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and about how millions of seniors will benefit from the new Medicare law.

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