Medicare Part D Not Reaching Low-Income Beneficiaries

Despite numerous efforts to encourage seniors to enroll in Medicare Part D, large numbers of the "near poor" - those who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but less than $19,000 per year - have not signed up. These seniors would receive some extra financial help from the government - not as much as the help offered to Medicare/Medicaid dual eligibles, but more than the help offered to other Medicare beneficiaries. Nevertheless, Medicare is having trouble identifying and reaching out to these "near poor" beneficiaries.