Drug Plan So Muddled, Health Secretary’s Parents Confused

by Tula Connell, Apr 3, 2006

The Bush administration’s Medicare Drug plan is so confusing, even the parents of the Michael Leavitt, secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, ended up picking a plan that put their retiree medical coverage at risk. And this after Leavitt helped his parents in making their initial selection.

According to the Alliance for Retired Americans, a nationwide advocacy group for seniors:

Dixie and Anne Leavitt have become the latest seniors across the country to have trouble choosing a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. After initially selecting a plan that put their retiree medical coverage at risk, the Leavitts recently had to switch to a different plan. Anne, 73, was quoted at the time in The Salt Lake Tribune as saying the enrollment process had been “smooth” and the program was “a guaranteed money-saver.” Secretary Leavitt’s father Dixie, 76, coincidentally made his own fortune earlier in life in the insurance business.

“If even the parents of the HHS Secretary are showing signs of confusion, one could easily see where anyone would be bewildered by the multitude of choices,” said George J. Kourpias, Alliance president.

The Leavitts are some of the lucky few who have a drug plan that may work.

Meanwhile other seniors, who are unable to unravel Bush’s Medicare mire, will be forced to pay a penalty if they have not signed up with a plan by May 15.

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