Seniors happy with Medicare drug coverage just the way it is

Ninety-two percent of seniors enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit in 2008 are satisfied with their coverage according to a national phone survey by RetireSafe, a nationwide education and advocacy group for older Americans.

The findings were not unexpected. Similar surveys conducted over the last year found the same results. "The universal high rates of satisfaction across all of the surveys prove that the program is working well for the vast majority of seniors," said RetireSafe President Michelle Plasari in announcing the results of the latest survey.

The survey also indicated that ninety percent of seniors were happy with the number of medicines their individual plan covered, and eighty-five percent felt their overall costs were manageable. Eighty-one percent of seniors said that they would most likely stick with their current drug plan for the coming year.

Some key results include:

• Almost all (96%) of seniors surveyed reported that their Medicare drug plan was relatively easy to use.
• Importantly, 86 percent reported that they no longer needed to skip doses or cut their pills now that they are enrolled in Part D.
• Nearly all (95%) said that they were satisfied that they were getting the medicines they needed through their Part D plan.
• Eighty-nine percent reported that they now had the peace of mind of knowing they could afford the medicines they needed.
• Finally, the survey also found out that 91 percent of seniors agreed with the statement that "My Medicare plan is working for me and I am happy I signed up."    

"The results of the survey send a clear message -- seniors are happy with their Medicare drug coverage just the way it is," said Plasari. "Congress should tread cautiously when it comes to making changes to what arguably has been the most successful large-scale government program in at least a generation."

RetireSafe is a grassroots organization representing more than 400,000 older Americans nationwide. Its mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the option and benefits of seniors and near-seniors. The survey was conducted for RetireSafe by Voter Consumer Research, Inc. of Woodlands, Texas. The data was collected between November 6th and November 13th from a sample of 1000 seniors 65 and older, with a 3.2% margin of error.