FEW STATE SENIORS GET MEDICARE DRUG DISCOUNT CARD

(11/20/2004)

West Virginia's senior citizens are skeptical, confused or uninformed when it comes to prescription drug discount cards. Few new privately provided Medicare discount cards have been issued. The newest Medicare discount card has been one of several issued to state seniors in recent years. "Most of them (in the past) have had little value," said a Grantsville senior, who asked not to be identified. The new Medicare stop-gap card was issued to seniors until more substantial benefits are included in the program in 2006. Barely one of every ten West Virginia seniors eligible for the Bush administration's Medicare prescription drug discount cards have obtained one. The deadline is December 31. Richard Stevens, executive director of the West Virginia Pharmacists Association, says only 38,000 state seniors have the Medicare cards. Stevens spoke to the state Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council yesterday. Council members say choosing one card from more than 40 different cards with different types of discounts can be difficult.

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