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With Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Enrollment Deadline Days Away, Washington Boosts Efforts to Enroll Seniors Amid Calls for Extension or Overhaul

As the May 15 deadline for enrolling in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit nears, the Government is stepping up efforts to enroll beneficiaries, and critics are calling on Washington to extend or even cancel the deadline. Most Medicare beneficiaries who don't enroll in a Medicare drug plan by the 15th will face higher premiums, will not be able to enroll until November 15, and won't get coverage until January 1, 2007. Low-income beneficiaries who meet certain financial criteria, however, will not face increased costs and will have longer to enroll.

This week, the Government is staging more than 1,000 events, throughout the country, aimed at enrolling beneficiaries before the Monday deadline. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has been urging beneficiaries to call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov to sign up. According to The New York Times, however, there have been reports of logjams as beneficiaries have rushed to do so. More than 200,000 beneficiaries were calling the toll free line daily early this week. (Beneficiaries can also enroll via mail, but mailings must be postmarked no later than May 15 to meet the deadline.)

To handle increased phone and computer enrollment, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that it has added 6,000 operators, quadrupled its computer capacity, and enhanced its systems to make enrollment easier. Staff with CMS and many State Health Insurance Plans (SHIPs) will be available until midnight, local time, on the 15th. "Thousands of volunteers affiliated with other support organizations are also assisting in enrollment," CMS reports.

Amid the rush to enroll, there have also been calls to extend the enrollment deadline. Many lawmakers support such a move, but the President has opposed any extension, according to the Times. The nonprofit MoveOn is calling on Washington to cancel the deadline outright and overhaul the prescription drug plan, making it less complicated and more user friendly. As of Tuesday, the organization reported having more than 126,000 signatures on a petition to this effect - 85% of its goal of 150,000 signatures.

For the CMS fact sheet, "Important Facts for People with Medicare to know about the May 15 Enrollment Deadline," click here.

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