Act Now to Ensure a Smoother Transition into the Part D Benefit

We are approaching the halfway point of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Fall Open Enrollment Period, where people can make changes to their Medicare health and prescription drug plans. To date, the CMS plan compare tools (Plan Finder and Options Compare) have received more than 16.5 million web hits, and since the beginning of the open enrollment period, over 144,000 beneficiaries have successfully enrolled online. At the end of the first two weeks of the 2007 fall enrollment campaign, www.medicare.gov experienced 35 percent more online enrollments than at the corresponding time last year.

This accomplishment is a sign of our combined public outreach efforts in helping people make informed decision regarding their Medicare health coverage. We would not have realized this significant mid-term goal without your generous efforts.

While we have made great inroads this enrollment period, its important to note that time is running out for people to either make changes to their coverage or to enroll in a prescription drug plan. This is an important time for beneficiaries to review their current coverage and make a decision that will give them peace of mind throughout the New Year.

Its important to note that while the open enrollment period lasts until December 31, 2007, we strongly encourage that everyone make a decision by early December, to ensure a smoother transition into the Part D benefit.

Please convey this information to your Medicare consumers, encourage them to take a few moments now to review their coverage and select a plan that meets their needs for 2008. In doing so, you will help ensure that people with Medicare will obtain their medicines right away and reduce their need to submit reimbursement claims until their new plan card arrives.

To enroll online and review plans with the enhanced online Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder please visit www.medicare.gov.

We thank you for your continued efforts to help those in your communities, and people with Medicare all across the country get the most out of their health coverage and live happier and healthier lives.

Thank you.