Medicare benefit meeting offered.

Byline: Tim Christie The Register-Guard

Ready or not, seniors: Medicare Part D is here.

Enrollment in the federal government's prescription drug benefit program begins Tuesday, with coverage effective Jan. 1.

Seniors have until May 15 to enroll during this initial roll-out of the program.

The new benefit can save seniors big bucks on medications, but it also has spurred massive confusion.

More than six in 10 seniors said they understand the new drug benefit "not too well" or "not at all," according to a survey released last week by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health.

That's why a consortium of public and private groups called the Medicare Rx Access Network of Oregon is hosting Tuesday's free educational event at the Lane Events Center in Eugene.

Organizers estimate 54,000 Lane County residents, and 41 million nationwide, are on Medicare and eligible for the new benefit. Most don't understand the new benefit or know whether they'll benefit, according to the survey.

More than four in 10 seniors (43 percent) surveyed said they do not know whether they'll enroll in a Medicare drug plan for 2006; 37 percent said they do not plan to enroll; and 20 percent said they plan to enroll.

"It's a lot of homework for seniors," said Claudia Grimm, coordinator of the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program in Oregon, which helps Medicare recipients figure out their benefits.

"The savvy seniors know what they're doing and can figure it out. But seniors for the most part are confused because there are a lot of conflicting messages, especially from insurance companies who may be hoping to gain a new client by enrolling them in their program and may not have altruistic motives."

Part D can be especially hard for seniors in isolated, rural areas who don't have family members or other resources they can turn to for help, she said.

Grimm said the first step for seniors is to figure out what kind of insurance they have, and whether it includes prescription drug coverage. If they have drug coverage that's as good as or better than Part D, they don't need to enroll.

If they don't have drug coverage, or their drug coverage is not as good as Plan D, they should think about enrolling in the new program.

Grimm encouraged seniors to get a list of their medications from their pharmacist, and then plug the drugs into the prescription plan finder at www. medicare.gov.

That will narrow their choices of plans, she said.

In approving the new benefit, Congress effectively delegated implementation to the private insurance industry.

Ten large insurance companies and several regional providers are marketing coverage plans to seniors, offering dozens of options with monthly premiums ranging from less than $20 to just under $40.

Plans vary in price depending on how many medications are covered, along with other factors.

First-time enrollment continues until May 15, then the program will have an annual open enrollment period from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31.

MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT

A free educational event on Medicare Part D - the new federal prescription drug benefit - takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Lane Events Center's Wheeler Pavilion, 13th Avenue and Jefferson Street, Eugene. Parking is free and refreshments will be served.

The event includes an overview from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. by representatives from the State Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program, a presentation from the Social Security Administration, and a question-and-answer period.

Representatives of health plans, insurance companies and pharmacies will be available to answer questions during an open house from noon to 2 p.m.

For more information on the Medicare benefit, call (800) MEDICARE (800 633-4227) or visit www.medicare.gov. In Oregon, call SHIBA at [phone].