The National Medical Association (NMA) in a letter to President Bush called for an extension to the enrollment deadline for the Medicare Prescription drug benefit program at least until Dec. 31.

Evidence that eligible African-American seniors are not enrolling in the Medicare Prescription drug program is supported by a May 3 GAO report which found that federal brochures, Web sites, the “1-800-Medicare” hotline and related literature failed to provide clear, accurate and usable information for seniors seeking help in selecting a plan. “There has not been sufficient time for seniors to sort out the many plans, compare formularies with their prescription needs and to navigate the complicated enrollment process. Moreover, too many seniors are not aware of the permanent consequences of not signing up by the May 15, 2006 deadline,” said Sandra L. Gadson, M.D., president of the NMA.

This Medicare Prescription drug benefit is available to some 43 million individuals, with an estimated 4.2 million of whom are African-Americans, and are dependent on Medicare as their primary source of healthcare coverage. To date, this group has some of the lowest enrollment rates in the program. The Congressional Budget Office reports that extending the deadline will ensure that more than 7 million eligible seniors and people with disabilities who have not signed up will not be forced to pay increased premiums for the rest of their lives.

The National Medical Association, the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute and the Auxiliary to the National Medical Association have been on the front lines encouraging seniors to enroll. On March 14, NMA President Gadson issued a call to action to mobilize leaders in the African-American communities to put aside their political differences and work to encourage seniors to sign up.

“We urge the President to extend the deadline for the Medicare Prescription drug program to include as many as seniors as possible,” concluded Gadson.

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