With health care becoming a hotter topic in the presidential election, Medicare wants to hear from seniors who are happy with the new drug discount cards.
The cards, put forth by the Bush administration as a way to save on prescriptions until they are covered by Medicare in 2006, have met lukewarm response. Fewer than one-third of those eligible have enrolled; they say the choices are too confusing and the discounts too slim.
To combat those complaints, the agency wants to publicize some success stories from real people willing to brag about their savings. The Medicare Web site (www.Medicare.gov) asks seniors to submit their names and phone numbers so they can be contacted by a Medicare representative. (The link for success stories can be reached by clicking on "Find available Medicare-approved drug discount cards" on the site's main page.)
The Web request adds the disclaimer that participation is voluntary.
"Your Medicare benefits will not be affected in any way by your answers or your decision to participate," it says.
A Medicare spokesman said a handful of people have responded to the invitation, which recently was added to the Web page.
