WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy percent of self-enrolled
seniors, an increase of 14 percentage points from a December 2005 survey,
would recommend that others sign up for the new Medicare prescription drug
benefit according to a new poll released today. The new survey is the third
in a series of tracking polls commissioned by America's Health Insurance
Plans (AHIP).
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040830/AHIPLOGO )
"Nine months into the new drug benefit, seniors are increasingly
pleased with their coverage and are saving on the medicines they need,"
said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP. "With lower than expected
premiums and savings of more than $1,000 annually on average for enrollees,
health insurance plans are delivering for seniors."
Conducted by Ayres, McHenry & Associates, the survey found that fifty-
eight percent of enrollees say they are saving money with the new benefit.
In December 2005, fifty-one percent of enrollees thought the benefit would
save them money. Overall, two-thirds of enrolled seniors think passing the
Medicare prescription drug plan was a good idea.
The survey also found that eight percent of self-enrolled seniors have
reached the "coverage gap" while nearly two-thirds say they don't expect to
reach the "coverage gap." Twenty percent of seniors have not reached the
"coverage gap" but expect to at some point this year.
"The broad bipartisan support among seniors will likely have the effect
of depoliticizing the Medicare prescription drug benefit," said Dr. Q.
Whitfield Ayres, President of Ayres, McHenry & Associates.
The survey also found that:
* Eighty-eight percent have had no problems using the new benefit;
consistent with the March tracking poll.
* Sixty-nine percent of seniors say the time and effort they put into
evaluating the many drug plans was worth it; an increase of 12
percentage points since the December poll.
* Eighty-eight percent of seniors say they did not experience any
problems signing up for the new benefit; consistent with the March
survey.
* Eighty-six percent of seniors regularly take at least one prescription
for an ongoing condition or illness.
To view the full survey, please visit
http://www.ahip.org/content/pressrelease.aspx?docid=17531.
America's Health Insurance Plans --
Providing Health Benefits to More Than 200 Million Americans
SOURCE America's Health Insurance Plans
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