WP: Medicare Drug Aid No Longer Automatic

[DeepModem Mom]

Medicare Drug Aid No Longer Automatic
By Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 20, 2006; Page A06

More than 600,000 low-income elderly and disabled people who automatically received federal help to pay for their Medicare drug coverage this year will have to actively apply to get such assistance in 2007, Medicare officials said yesterday.

The change affects people who were automatically enrolled in the inaugural year of the drug benefit and got the low-income subsidy in 2006 but who are no longer eligible for Medicaid or two other government assistance programs.

Some advocates say the affected seniors may not have understood a letter about the change that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent last month. And even beneficiaries aware of the change might have trouble completing the six-page application, they said.

"Just sending these folks a letter and an application doesn't mean they necessarily are going to apply for the extra help even though they may need it," said Marisa Scala-Foley, associate director of the Access to Benefits Coalition at the National Council on Aging. "These are still likely to be low income folks who need all the help they can get. . . . These folks are going to need a lot of hand-holding."

There is no danger of them losing Medicare drug coverage. Even if they do nothing, they will be automatically enrolled in their current plan for 2007. But in January, most would be charged a monthly premium for the first time....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/19/AR2006101901567.html

[ananda]

1. Nasty and pathetic.

That's the GOP fer ya.

[Rose Siding]

2. They need hand holding?

Stupid old poor people. Screw 'em! (or at least milk 'em for all they're worth)

:cry:

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.'

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I read your post, and tears came to MY eyes. I hope...

we're on the way to ridding ourselves of this bunch.

[Eurobabe]

4. Yeah, remember Bush hit the Trifecta, screw those old people

anyhow.

We need the $$$ to finance our illegal war.

[asjr]

5. I think it was Herbert Hoover who promised everyone

a "chicken in every pot." This administration is taking back the chicken.

[Gloria]

6. Nice way to dispose of people they don't give a shit about...

I bet Halliburton has to fill out less paperwork than these folks are supposed to keep up with....

[Quantess]

7. Recommended!

Good, old fashioned, family values, right here.

[underpants]

8. Bury them in paperwork

and yet I am sure that this is touted as one of their great successes in stump speeches.

[Vinca]

9. This is cruel and needless.

I suppose they figure if they make it complicated some won't sign up and somehow a few bucks will be saved. If this is compassionate conservatism, I'd hate to know what the ones without compassion would be like. We have to take our country back.

[Quantess]

10. Kicking for the Saturday crowd.

Here's to compassionate conservatives!

[cosmicdot]

11. kicking for its importance n/m

[sarcasmo]

12. What a JOKE this Country has become.

Kick to the top.