WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Despite a major Bush administration push, most U.S. seniors do not understand and do not plan to use a new prescription-drug program, USA Today reported.
A Gallup Poll taken last week for USA Today and CNN shows 61 percent of U.S. seniors do not understand the program and 54 percent have no plans to sign up for the biggest change in Medicare since it began in 1965.
"People are very confused. Part of the confusion stems from all the variables," said Vicki Gottlich of advocacy group Center for Medicare Advocacy. "If you're going to get mailings from 15 different companies offering a different array of plans, you might throw it all in the garbage."
Administration officials, however, said the numbers are encouraging since insurers have just started marketing specific drug plans.
The government hopes to sign up 30 million of the 42 million U.S. Medicare beneficiaries. Seniors who enroll after May 15, 2006, will pay higher premiums.
While some members of Congress suggested delaying the $720 billion, 10-year program to pay for hurricane relief efforts, the White House rejected those calls.
