Beneficiaries should be hearing from their former employer or union this fall about their coverage options.

What you say may very well be true, but I would feel better hearing what the doctor has to say.

We're also working on further steps to insure that, when a beneficiary goes to a pharmacy in 2006, they'll be able to get their prescription drugs, even if the only proof they have is that they are in Medicaid and Medicare.

All Medicare drug plans have to cover all medically necessary treatments.

One of the concerns we have is that folks are overly anxious and think they've got to go find a plan today, or find a plan tomorrow or find a plan on Monday. Not only do they not need to decide now, they can't decide now.

We want to make sure people know they don't have to decide today, tomorrow, even Monday. There's a little bit of a concern that some seniors feel like they have to make a decision today. Of course, enrollment doesn't even begin until Nov. 15.