As the federal government urges Medicare beneficiaries to sign up for Medicare Part D by the May 15 deadline, new problems are plaguing the drug benefit program, reports The New York Times. Telephone waiting times of up to 30 minutes are frustrating beneficiaries who are trying to enroll in Humana’s drug plan, despite federal standards that require most calls to be answered in 30 seconds. Insurers who violate the standards risk not having their contracts renewed next year, or they may be fined. Seniors are also receiving notices that several months of premium payments have been deducted from their Social Security checks, while others can’t get monthly premiums deducted from their Social Security payments at all. Asked to compare drug plans on a Medicare website before they enroll, beneficiaries are finding some insurers haven’t listed the drugs the government requires them to offer, and some insurers are also not disclosing limits they’ve placed on dosages, in violation of Medicare’s requirements.
