Voices of Beneficiaries: Early Experiences with the Medicare Drug Benefit

The Medicare Modernization Act established a voluntary prescription drug benefit for Medicare’s elderly and disabled beneficiaries provided by private plans that is open to all beneficiaries.

This paper focuses on the decision-making process and the factors that influence decisions about Medicare drug plans, as well as beneficiaries’ early experiences and future concerns related to their prescription drug coverage. It is based on in-depth interviews held in March 2006 with diverse beneficiaries in four cities: Baltimore; Lincoln, Neb.; Miami; and Sacramento, Calif.

Report (.pdf)