Ninety Percent of Low-Income Seniors Surveyed Say No Problems Using Medicare Drug Benefit
Posted on: Monday, 13 March 2006, 12:00 CST
WASHINGTON, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Nine out of 10 seniors who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid say they have experienced no problems using the new Medicare drug benefit, a new survey released today found.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040830/AHIPLOGO )
Often referred to as "dual eligibles," these seniors previously received drug coverage through Medicaid and are now enrolled in a Medicare prescription drug plan.
The survey found that four percent of dual eligibles reported having a problem related to using their benefit that has been resolved, while four percent say they have an unresolved problem.
"This is the most vulnerable population of seniors and our members are hard at work with CMS to resolve any remaining challenges that they are experiencing," said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).
Conducted by Ayres, McHenry & Associates on behalf of AHIP, the survey also shows that 80 percent of dual eligibles say the Medicare drug benefit covers the drugs they need.
The poll also found that dual eligibles are skeptical about the motives behind attacks on the Medicare drug benefit and concerned that these attacks may discourage seniors from enrolling. Thirty-five percent say that politicians' criticisms of the Medicare drug plan are motivated by a desire to score political points, versus 14 percent who say these criticisms are motivated by a sincere interest in fixing the program. One-third say political attacks make seniors less likely to sign up for the program.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), dual eligibles are individuals who are entitled to Medicare Part A and/or Part B and are eligible for some form of Medicaid benefit.
When the new Medicare prescription drug benefit went into effect on January 1, 2006, responsibility for dual eligibles' prescription drug coverage shifted from the states to the federal government. More than six million dual eligibles have transitioned from Medicaid drug coverage to new Medicare drug plans.
The survey of 401 seniors who were automatically enrolled in the Medicare drug benefit was conducted March 6-11, 2006 and has a margin of error of plus- or-minus 4.89 percent.
To view the full survey and a memo summarizing the results, please visit http://www.ahip.org/.
America's Health Insurance Plans -- Providing Health Benefits
to More Than 200 Million Americans
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040830/AHIPLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com
America's Health Insurance Plans
CONTACT: Mohit Ghose of America's Health Insurance Plans,+1-202-778-8494
Web site: http://www.ahip.org/
Source: PRNewswire
Related Articles
- Study: Medicare Drug Plan Cutting Costs for Seniors
- Bush Urges GOP on Medicare Drug Benefit
- PCMA: Primary Purpose of Medicare Drug Benefit is to Lower Seniors' Prescription Drug Costs
- Medicare Drug Program a Lightning Rod for Seniors
- Medicare Drug Benefit Cuts Sales From Canada
- New Medicare Drug Benefit Has Lots of Options
- Medicare Drug Benefit Letters Due
- Bush: Monthly Premiums for New Medicare Drug Benefit to Be Less
- Medicare drug benefit to cost less, official says
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds