News 2854 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan 80 Save Money

The deadline to sign up for a Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit plan ended on on May 15. After a chaotic beginning, a touch of controversy and a lot of confused seniors choosing from over 70 different plans, polls show that the majority of senior citizens are beginning to save money on a Part D plan. Because they were above the poverty level, Charlotte and Bill Jackson did not qualify for federal assistance before Part D. They both signed up for a Humana plan. "I'm very satisfied with what I got," said Charlotte. "It will make it easier paying the rest of the bills." Others are not quite as happy, Ron Todd, a paraplegic, is paying more now than he was before when he received his drugs for free through Medicaid. Living on a fixed income, this has put a strain on his budget. "I'm a mess," stated Todd. "I have fought this thing for six months now, knowing what was going to happen to me. It just puts me on a very tight, stringent budget." Polls show that 80% of the seniors enrolled are saving money on a Part D plan. Unfortunately, Todd falls into the one-fifth of the population who are paying more.

Read more: Drug plan's bottom lines emerging (USA Today) Polls show a majority of Medicare's customers are satisfied and saving money, but about one in five are paying more for their medicines.