Dole announced today the launch of a Medicare podcast to educate beneficiaries and their caregivers about the enrollment process. The weekly podcast, titled Ten Things Seniors Need to Know about Medicare’s Drug Coverage, provides seniors and people living with disabilities a source of information about the drug benefit prior to the 2007 enrollment period, beginning on November 15, 2006.”With a little over three months until the start of the sign-up period, now is the time for seniors to learn about their options and decide if they want to enroll,” said Senator Dole. “Seniors need to look at their current prescription drug coverage and determine if they could save more money by switching to Medicare’s program. Those currently enrolled in a Medicare drug plan should assess whether they can get better coverage by switching to a different plan.”

“If seniors learn and examine their options before the enrollment period begins, which this podcast will help them do, we’ll experience another successful sign-up period,” said Dole.

Joining Senator Dole in the podcast series is Leslie Norwalk, Deputy Administrator for CMS, as well as Medicare beneficiaries, who will give a first-hand account of the their personal experience with Medicare’s drug coverage. Together, Senator Dole, Ms. Norwalk and the beneficiaries will address a variety of topics about the drug benefit that will allow seniors to make educated decisions about enrolling or re-enrolling.

The “Bob Dole on Medicare” campaign is being supported in part by a grant from Pfizer

Source: Bob Dole on Medicare