RX Drug Plan Fails to Attract Healthy and Low-Income Seniors

According to today's USA Today article, the Bush Administration's prescription drug plan is unpopular among Medicare beneficiaries with few health problems or low incomes. The two groups have the lowest enrollment of all beneficiaries coming into the final weeks of the free registration period. Any senior who choses to enroll beyond the May 15th deadline will have to pay the Bush Administration prescription drug tax.

• HEALTHY SENIORS – Seniors with low monthly prescription drug bills are hesitant to enroll. This is problematic since healthy people spread the insurance risk and hold down the cost of the program. Low enrollment among healthy seniors will only add to the skyrocketing price tag of the Bush Administration's prescription drug pan.

• LOW INCOME SENIORS - Only 1.6 million of the 8.2 million low-income seniors eligible for the benefit have enrolled.