WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. federal agencies were working Wednesday to repair a billing problem ahead of enrolment for the 2007 Medicare drug benefits.
Approximately 50,000 people who opted to have their Medicare drug costs taken from their Social Security checks have continued to experience problems with the incorrect amounts being withheld, USA Today reported.
Advocacy groups have said the problem has been present since the onset of the program, with some people being charged for plans they did not sign up for and others not being charged for plans they are covered by.
"We have cases that go back as far as July and have not been resolved," said Deane Beebe of New York's Medicare Rights Center.
Jim Kerr, an acting deputy director at Medicare, said about 100,000 cases were resolved last month, leaving 50,000 yet to be fixed.
"It has taken a great deal of time to resolve some of them, unfortunately," he said.
