This HealthDay News article, via Forbes discusses different reactions to the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Enrollment must be completed by today or applicants face delays in enrolling and penalties, although waiving penalties is being discussed.
The article points out that the reaction to the plan run the gamut from: " ...(the process) has been confusing for seniors suddenly faced with dozens of competing plans vying for their attention -- each with its own list of covered drugs..." to "I think the roll-out has gone really well, considering that this is the first entitlement program in a very long time," said Thomas Johnson, executive director of the Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA), an industry group. "Looking back on it, one could argue that maybe it could have been done in a simpler fashion, but when laws are written, sometimes that's not the case, and so we are where we are," he said."
My personal experience dovetails with the latter comment. I helped my 84 year old Mother enroll yesterday (deadlines do work, I guess.) The process took about 90 minutes on line. Using the http://www.medicare.gov/ site, we listed her approximate 8 medications and doses, picked her preferred pharmacy, dealt with the generic substitute question and then reviewed the cost and coverage of the plans that were returned by the web site. The web site functioned flawlessly--there were no navigation problems or waiting for information. It had the ability to save and change information quite easily. The comparison results were generally clear and available either in summary or granular form (by prescription.) Hyper links were good, but definitions provided by the hyper links could have been more explicit, particularly needed was a clear explanation of what the total plan cost exactly meant.
I can see where it might be difficult for someone not used to ordering on line to have the confidence to easily complete the process. This is definitely an area where children and grandchildren can help out their parents.