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Medicare has announced that more than 30 million Medicare beneficiaries are receiving prescription drug coverage, including more than 8 million beneficiaries who have gotten new, individual prescription drug coverage since the program began. More than 93 million prescriptions were filled for these beneficiaries with drug coverage during March -- averaging 3 million prescriptions filled per day.
In addition, 5.8 million people with Medicare get drug coverage from the Veterans Administration and other sources with prescription drug coverage equal to Medicare -- bringing the total to approximately 35.8 million Medicare beneficiaries who are now receiving prescription drug coverage.
"With a month to go, we've passed our projections of 28 to 30 million enrollees in the first year, and we are intensifying our local outreach efforts to get more seniors signed up before the May 15th deadline," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "These strong enrollment numbers are a tribute to everyone in the national network of caring -- all of our partners, community leaders, the State Health Insurance Programs (SHIPS), and family members, who have provided counseling and assistance to the millions of beneficiaries who are now taking advantage of this new benefit and saving money."
"Signing up is as easy as three simple steps," Leavitt said. "One: Get your prescriptions together. Two: Get your Medicare card. Three: Call 1-800-MEDICARE or go online at www.medicare.gov."
More than 8 million people with Medicare now are enrolled in stand-alone prescription drug plans, an increase of 1.7 million in the last four weeks. Close to 1 million people have enrolled in Medicare Advantage health plans, with prescription drug coverage. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that nearly all of the beneficiaries who have enrolled have chosen a plan that has no deductible, low premium or provides some kind of coverage in the coverage gap.
"The May 15th deadline is fast approaching. We urge everyone who has not signed up to act now to avoid a last minute rush," said CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. "There are plenty of ways to get help. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or attend one of the many thousands of events we are conducting with our partners across the country before the May 15th deadline. Sign up now and start saving on your drugs. And if you don't need drugs now, by signing up you can get the lowest cost protection for the future."
CMS and its 10,000 grassroots partners are conducting more than 1,800 enrollment events across the country each week up until the May 15th enrollment deadline. Additionally, CMS has increased resources to keep the wait times down and beneficiary support up at 1-800-MEDICARE and www.Medicare.gov. 4-25-06
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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