Medicare Drug Information Hotline Full Of Mistakes
04 May 2006
The Government-Accountability-Office (GAO) had its people pose as senior citizens and placed 500 calls to 1-800-MEDICARE hotline and asked for information. Over 30% of the information they received was the wrong.
The most important question ‘Which drug plan costs the least for my specific needs' was answered incorrectly 59% of the time.
The GAO also noted that too many calls were suddenly disconnected.
Add to this the amount of incomprehensible jargon strewn all over the program's printed material and it is a miracle people have managed to sign on at all.
People have until May 15 to sign up for the Medicare prescription program. Democrats would like to see this deadline extended. According to the GAO's findings, Democrats are now saying that the authorities have not prepared properly and should extend the deadline.
When asked about these findings, Mark McCellan, the Bush administration's spokesman on these matters, said he is very ‘concerned' the information given to the callers was incorrect.
The GAO callers found 10% of calls took more than 15 minutes to be answered. One of the callers waited for 54 minutes, only to find the call suddenly disconnected.
The GAO found the printed material is not clear, complete, accurate and usable.
The Bush administration is sure 90% of people who are entitled to become Medicare beneficiaries will have signed up by May 15 - a total of about 43 million people.
If energetic GAO employees have problems trying to sign up, one wonders what it must be like for senior citizens. How many of those who did manage to sign up got the best price for their needs?
Written by: Christian Nordqvist Editor: Medical News Today
