Many seniors unaware of deadline for Medicare drug plan
“It’s a finding that I think can’t be ignored,” says Mollyann Brodie, Kaiser’s vice president for public opinion and media research. “You really do have to take a look at the group that maybe hasn’t gotten the message yet.”
“The key message there is, ‘Act now,’ ” Harrington says. “We believe that there is real value to having a deadline.”
“It strengthens our argument,” Snowe spokesman Preston Hartman said. “Extra outreach is definitely in order, and we need more time to do that.”
Outside Congress, groups that have criticized the prescription-drug program as too complicated also are working to extend the deadline. “It’s one thing to play brinksmanship and do everything to get as many people enrolled prior to May 15,” says Ron Pollack of Families USA, a liberal health care research and advocacy group. “It’s quite another thing to say that seniors will be penalized for the rest of their lives because they didn’t sign up and were confused about the consequences.”
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