Seniors lack computer access to Medicare Part D information
A few clicks of the mouse could answer an urgent question for millionsof older Americans: How will they pay for their prescription drugs?
But many will never get to www.medicare.govbecause they don’t use or can’t get to the Internet, where thegovernment has concentrated its information efforts. And with theenrollment deadline for Medicare’s new prescription drug benefitlooming on May 15, a lack of computer skills and access could causeolder Americans to miss their opportunity to join.
“The vastmajority of seniors we work with don’t own computers,” said ConnieBagley, executive director of the Southeastern Minnesota Area Agency onAging, which serves 11 counties. “We have people calling and saying,’Will you please enroll us, because we can’t access it ourselves.’ “
Nearlytwo-thirds of U.S. seniors say they don’t understand Medicare’s newPart D drug plan. Bagley said the traffic on her agency’s telephonehelp lines has quadrupled in recent months, from 7,000 calls a month to7,000 calls a week.