Bush to Promote Prescription-Drug Plan
08/29/2005
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President Bush is increasingly lending a hand to the administration’s effort to sell older Americans on the value of a prescription drug benefit that begins next year for Medicare patients.
Trying to combat confusion about and criticism of the new government drug plan, Bush is to make appearances in two states Monday to talk it up. Leaving his Texas ranch for two days, Bush attends “conversations” with experts and the elderly in El Mirage, Ariz., and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
After spending the night in San Diego, he speaks on Tuesday at the Naval Air Station North Island there to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. His remarks focus on fighting terrorists and the ongoing campaign in Iraq. They recall the Aug. 14, 1945, Japanese surrender that came just days after the United States incinerated the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs.
There has been indications that efforts to build support for the Medicare drug benefit - including a few other appearances around the country by Bush - are paying off. Congress allocated about $300 million to an awareness campaign.
A recent survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found for the first time that people were as likely to have a favorable view of the plan as to have an unfavorable view. Still, the survey found that more people do not plan to enroll than do.
The prescription drug benefit kicks in Jan. 1. About 43 million beneficiaries will be able to choose from two or more private plans that offer drug coverage.
Enrollees will pay a monthly premium averaging about $32, but the amount will vary among regions, and millions of poor people will pay nothing. Beneficiaries will also have a $250 deductible, meaning they will have to pay that amount for their prescriptions before the drug plan covers expenses. Again, millions of poor beneficiaries will not have any deductible.
After spending more than four weeks operating from his Texas ranch, Bush returns to Washington on Friday.