As Enrollment Begins, New Survey Underscores Challenges if Seniors are to Take Advantage of Medicare Drug Benefit

Many Seniors Say They Don't Understand the Benefit, Don't Know if They Will Enroll, And Are Wary of the Large Number of Plan Choices

Those Who Say They Understand the Benefit Are More Likely to View it Favorably

Many Low-Income Seniors Unaware of Financial Help Offered Under the Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the new Medicare drug benefit’s open enrollment period set to begin Nov. 15, many seniors remain uncertain about how the law will affect them and unsure about whether they will enroll, according to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. The results highlight the critical importance of ongoing education efforts to successful implementation of the new program next year.

When asked how well they understand the drug benefit, more than six in 10 seniors (61%) say “not too well” or “not at all,” while more than one in three seniors (35%) say “very” or “somewhat” well. When asked whether the Medicare drug benefit would help them personally, more seniors say it would not (49%) than say it would (39%).

Overall, more than four in 10 seniors (43%) report they do not yet know if they will enroll in a Medicare drug plan for 2006; 37% say they do not plan to enroll; and one in five (20%) say they plan to enroll. Seniors without any drug coverage are most likely to say that they plan to enroll (28%, compared with 15% for those with existing drug coverage). ...

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The Kaiser Family Foundation

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