HOMEPAGE > MEDICARE

Views of Medicare Plan Shift

USA TODAY Editorial, April 17, 2006

As millions of taxpayers rush to meet today's deadline for filing their returns, another deadline looms with even greater consequences for the nation's seniors and disabled. They have until May 15 to enroll in Medicare's prescription drug benefit before being shut out until 2007, when they'll face stiff premium hikes.

A few months ago, criticism of the program was so fierce that many of those eligible might have shrugged at the risk. Not any more. More than 7 million people - about half the number eligible - have signed up, and 400,000 are joining weekly, prompting calls in Congress and from some advocacy groups to extend the deadline.

The political stakes, too, are high. Republicans in Congress, already concerned that the Iraq war will cause them problems in November's elections, have been shaken by criticism of the program, which many of them reluctantly backed at President Bush's insistence. Democrats, seeing opportunity, have railed about the program's complexity. Just last week, the Democratic National Committee called the program "disastrous."

One measure of the impact: Bush traveled to three states last week to reassure seniors that computer "glitches" and mismanagement, which left thousands of low-income patients unable to fill their prescriptions in January, have been fixed.

Problems are nearly certain to persist - the inevitable price of letting people choose coverage that best fits their circumstances. But opinions appear to be shifting as potential beneficiaries calculate their benefits:

*Nearly two-thirds of enrollees said the program saves them money, a Washington Post/ABC News Poll found. An AARP poll found 78% are satisfied with the benefit. * Complaints are way down; waiting times to get through to 1-800-MEDICARE operators average less than two minutes.

*Competition among plans has driven the average monthly premium down to $25 from the initial $37 estimate. The typical senior who previously lacked coverage will save an average of $1,100 annually, the government estimates - a big number considering that many seniors without coverage have to choose between groceries and medicine.

Superficially, the change in attitudes might suggest that extending the deadline is a good idea, and, in fact, a short extension might be needed to cope with problems caused by a last-minute rush. Even so, any long extension would be a mistake. The deadline is forcing seniors - and their adult children - to act. Note that one in eight taxpayers file in the week before April 15.

Lacking a deadline, many will be tempted to delay until they need expensive medicines. That can hurt a program that needs the healthy to join so that their premiums can help defer the higher costs incurred by the chronically ill. Also, there's plenty of help available to make a decision now. Social service agencies, state insurance departments and pharmacies are helping seniors navigate the system. More than 1,000 enrollment seminars are held each week.

Congress rejected an extension in February. With almost a month to go, it should resist the temptation to change its mind.