Attention, Health Care Reporters Covering Medicare! As of Monday, Three Weeks Left to Sign Up; Arizonans Flock to New Part D Medicare Program; So Far, 76 Percent Have Enrolled vs. 69 Percent Nationwide.

Health Net:

--Remaining 24 Percent Have Only Until May 15 to Enroll; 797,108 Arizonans Are Eligible; 604,190 Are Enrolled, Leaving 192,918, or 24 Percent, out of Part D; Nationwide, 42 Million Americans Are Eligible and 29 Million, or 64 Percent, Are Currently Enrolled

SUMMARY

Three-quarters of eligible Arizonans have signed up for the new Medicare Advantage program; however, 24 percent have not. In addition to prescription drug coverage, the newly created Medicare Advantage Program provides many additional benefits and services not available to seniors on original Medicare. For example, Health Net Medicare Advantage members receive expert ongoing help to manage chronic diseases, sudden illnesses and injuries, plus access to a wide variety of wellness programs and discounts, and a fitness club membership especially designed for senior citizens -- all at no additional cost. Many seniors do not know about the added value of the managed care plans, but their health could benefit greatly from the extra value that a managed care plan provides.

KEY FACTS ABOUT MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE

--Beneficiaries who don't enroll by May 15 will not be able to get coverage until Jan. 1.

--The program is voluntary, and requires only simple contact information to enroll.

--Seniors can save, on average, $1,500 annually on their prescription drug costs.

--Seniors spend, on average, $1,000 of their own money to buy medications each year.

--Without further enrollment over the next three weeks, significant benefits could be left on table.

--A recent ABCNews poll suggests that 75 percent of seniors who have enrolled say the paperwork was easy to complete, and nearly two-thirds said the program is already saving them money.

--Currently, more than 440,000 Medicare beneficiaries are covered by Health Net nationwide.

--Seniors are urged to enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug Program before the May 15th deadline.

WHO/WHAT WE HAVE:

--Mark El-Tawil, President, Health Net of Arizona Inc., available for interviews

--Health Net's Medicare Store at Fiesta Mall in Mesa 7:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mon-Sat; 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun

TOPICS HE CAN DISCUSS:

--What seniors stand to gain by enrolling in a Medicare Drug Plan before the May 15th deadline

--Statistics about who has signed up, including those at Health Net's new Medicare retail store in Fiesta Mall

--What Medicare and Health Net are doing to encourage more to sign up