New poll on Rx benefit is positive

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Amid reports of confusion about Medicare's drug benefit, a new poll says that nearly half of seniors are still ready to sign on the dotted line.

A new Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care Poll shows that 49 percent of U.S. seniors say they are somewhat likely, very likely or absolutely certain to enroll in a new Medicare drug plan by May 2006, when the initial enrollment period for the new benefit ends.

This represents a marked jump from June 2005, when just 32 percent said they would be somewhat likely, very likely or absolutely certain to enroll, the researchers said Wednesday.

But despite these optimistic results, problems with beneficiaries' perceptions still dog the new plan.

Specifically, 41 percent of 2,160 seniors say they are not very or not at all confident that they would be able to choose a drug plan that's right for them.