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Support for Medicare Drug Benefit Grows Among Enrolled Seniors
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WASHINGTON, DC –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).
“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.
