Bush defends much-criticized drug program

By Caren Bohan

SUN CITY CENTER, Florida (Reuters) – President George W.
Bush urged older Americans on Tuesday to sign up for the
government’s prescription drug program before a May 15 deadline
and disputed complaints that the plan is too complex.

“This is a good deal for American seniors,” Bush said at
the Kings Point retirement community near Tampa, Florida. The
visit was part of two-and-a-half day tour to promote the
program in the state, a favorite retirement spot.

The program, offered to the 42 million people in the
Medicare health program, began on January 1. More than 30
million are receiving drug coverage. Of those, 8.1 million have
signed up voluntarily for the new program and the rest
transferred from other programs or have coverage through former
jobs.

Most others who are eligible must sign up within six days
or face a penalty.

Democrats have called for an extension of the deadline,
faulting Bush and his Republican allies for creating a plan
that is too confusing for many to navigate. But Bush has
rejected calls for a deadline change.

Bush has also taken heat from some Republicans over the
drug plan’s estimated cost of $724 billion over 10 years.

Rep. Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, called the program
a failure and said Republicans had allowed pharmaceutical and
insurance companies too much sway in its design.

“Instead of more empty rhetoric from the president and
Republicans in Congress, we must fix this disastrous drug plan
and extend the enrollment deadline to protect America’s
seniors,” Wexler said.

The program relies on private insurers and health plans to
deliver benefits. One difficulty for potential users has been
choosing among the dozens of plans offered.

The administration has set up hotlines and enlisted the
help of community groups to help sign people up.

EARLY PROBLEMS

Bush has acknowledged problems early on in the process when
helplines were jammed and some poorer people had trouble
shifting from other government programs. But the administration
has said it has ironed out many snafus and Bush said the array
of choices would benefit users in the long run.

“The reason why we felt it was necessary to provide choices
is because we want the system to meet the needs of the
consumer. The more choices you have, the more likely it is
you’d be able to find a program that suits your specific need,”
Bush added.

The president is crisscrossing the state to tout the
program and was joined by his brother Jeb, Florida’s governor.
He plans another Medicare event on Wednesday in Orlando.

In Coconut Creek on the east coast, Bush met with older
adults enrolling in the program and said it would offer
“significant savings.” He also said the May 15 deadline did not
apply for low-income people who qualified for extra help.

When he worked to push the legislation creating the drug
program through Congress in 2003, Bush hoped it would gain
favor for Republicans among older voters.

But Democrats believe that the problems with the plan’s
troubles may instead boost their bid to wrest dominance from
Republicans in November’s congressional election.

Bush’s record-low approval rating, which fell to 31 percent
in the latest Gallup poll, is a broader problem for Republicans
that Democrats hope to use to their advantage.

(Additional reporting by Tabassum Zakaria)