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Consumers Fear a Medicare Drug Debacle

May 4, 2005

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Confusion and apprehension are the dominant emotions about the new Medicare Part D drug benefit that begins January 1, 2006, according to a new report released by the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service group.

The report provides a unique insight into the experiences of people with Medicare, capturing the six major issues facing Medicare consumers as identified by a broad group of older and disabled Americans.

Members of the Medicare Rights Center’s Consumer Action Board (CAB), a select group of 52 people with Medicare from 34 states who are community leaders in health care and disability issues, report a growing sense of uncertainty regarding their future health coverage. They also think that little is being done to prepare them for the enormous changes to the Medicare program.

The Consumer Action Board members’ top concern is how the new Medicare drug benefit will work.

“Just about everyone I’ve spoken to about Medicare is confused and will not know what to do in 2006,” says CAB member Betty Sicher, a retired nurse and member of the Rockland County Health Care Coalition in New York. Despite her active involvement in health care, she admits: “I can be included in that group.”

In the Consumer Action Board Regional Report, CAB members speak from personal experience and offer pragmatic solutions to problems with Medicare. CAB members address a wide range of issues including:

• Medicare drug benefit;
• Medicare-approved discount cards;
• Transitioning people with Medicaid drug coverage to Medicare drug coverage;
• Eliminating the 24-month waiting period for people with disabilities;
• Mental health parity;
• Wheelchair coverage requirements; and
• Medicare private plan “lock-in” rule.

“This report provides policy makers a unique opportunity to see the Medicare program from the consumer point of view instead of just looking at the numbers,” said Robert M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center.

The report can be found online at www.medicarerights.org/cabreport.pdf.

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