Pelosi Statement on Bush Administration's Misleading Claim About Medicare Drug Plan Enrollment

December 22, 2005

Pelosi Statement on Bush Administration's Misleading Claim About Medicare Drug Plan Enrollment

Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Bush Administration's misleading claim that more than 21 million seniors and people with disabilities will begin getting prescription drug coverage as of January 1.

"Today, the Bush Administration released its estimates on the number of Medicare beneficiaries who will begin receiving prescription drug coverage in January. According to the Administration's own predictions, by the end of January, only 1.5 million people out of the nearly 20 million who need prescription coverage will be signed up to receive benefits. This is a clear demonstration that seniors and people with disabilities are having great difficulty navigating the confusing new law.

"Once again, the Bush Administration is misleading the American people instead of offering real solutions to help beneficiaries navigate their overly complicated and confusing Medicare drug plan. The Administration is taking credit for 20 million beneficiaries who are already covered or automatically enrolled in prescription drug coverage. This is not a ‘strong start' to be touted; it is a clear cover-up of their flawed policy.

"Democrats have been fighting to give beneficiaries an additional six months to choose a plan and to allow the federal government to negotiate for lower prices. Republicans in Congress are leaving town without passing this extension, and are now inflating the numbers to hide the problems with their bewildering drug plan."

http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=1350