More Than 80 percent Say No Problems Using New Benefits
WASHINGTON, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten weeks after the start of the new
Medicare drug benefit, six out of 10 seniors who voluntarily signed up for the
program say they already are saving money and more than eight out of 10 report
having no problems related to enrollment or usage of their new benefits, a new
survey released today found.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040830/AHIPLOGO )
"When you get out of Washington and listen to seniors, you learn that
seniors are saving and that the vast majority are not experiencing problems,"
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 seniors are feeling increasingly positive as they experience
the new program.
The poll found that 65 percent of enrolled seniors say they would
recommend that other seniors sign up for the program, versus eight percent who
say they would not. A similar survey conducted in December before the benefit
went into effect found that 56 percent of enrolled seniors would recommend
that other seniors sign up.
Two-thirds of enrolled seniors now say their new benefits are worth the
time and effort they spent evaluating the various drug plans, up from 57
percent in December's poll.
The poll found that 59 percent of enrollees say they are already saving
money each month because of the new benefit, while 23 percent say they are
not. December's poll found that 51 percent expected to save money. The survey
found that eight out of ten seniors say the program covers the drugs they
need.
"After the deluge of media stories reporting problems with the Medicare
prescription drug benefit, it is stunning to see the high percentage of
seniors who report having no significant problems," said Dr. Q. Whitfield
Ayres, President of Ayres, McHenry & Associates.
Eighty-four percent of seniors say they experienced no problems signing up
for the program. Five percent say they have an unresolved problem related to
enrollment.
Eighty-five percent of seniors say they have experienced no problems using
their new benefits. Five percent say they have an unresolved problem related
to using their benefits.
Three percent of seniors say they had a problem both in signing up for and
using their new benefits.
"While these data are of little comfort to any senior who has experienced
a problem, they do put the scope of the issue in perspective," said Ignagni.
"Our community's job is to work collaboratively with beneficiaries,
pharmacies, physicians and advocacy organizations to resolve any remaining
transition issues."
The poll also found skepticism about the motives behind attacks on the
Medicare drug benefit and an emerging concern that these attacks may
discourage seniors from enrolling. Enrollees by a three-to-one margin say that
politicians' criticisms of the Medicare drug plan are motivated by a desire to
score political points, rather than a sincere interest in fixing the program.
Forty-one percent of enrollees say political attacks make seniors less likely
to sign up for the program.
The survey of 408 seniors who have signed up for the Medicare drug benefit
was conducted March 6-9, 2006 and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.85
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
SOURCE America's Health Insurance Plans
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Related links:
http://www.ahip.org
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CONTACT:
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