WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The Medicare handbook going out around the United States includes a mistake that could be costly for low-income seniors.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the 2006 Medicare guide, which includes details on the new prescription drug coverage, describes a program called Extra Help. The program covers monthly premiums for low-income seniors, but the guidebook does not mention that they must choose a plan that is at or below the average regional cost.
"This error is actually quite crucial," Vicki Gottlich, a senior attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy in Washington, D.C., told the newspaper. "Many people rely on this handbook, and they're not going to realize the information printed is wrong."
Those who opt for more expensive prescription drug plans, about 60 percent of those available, would have to pay the difference between their monthly premium and the average one in their region.
Officials say that the Medicare Web site offers the correct information and that insurers have promised to alert seniors to the misinformation.
