For Seniors, 'D' Day Arrives

Last November, I asked you to help your parents or grandparents enroll in the new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. You'll be paying for the plan through your future tax dollars, so you might as well help your loved ones participate!

Jan. 1 was "D" day for the 43 million senior citizens who qualify for the new prescription drug benefits. But by the end of 2005, only about 6 million or 7 million had actually been enrolled, with most of them joining through the "auto-enrollment" program that primarily took care of seniors who are also on Medicaid.

It's time to check to make sure the seniors in your family have signed up. They have until May 15 to pick a plan. After that, the monthly premiums will rise, and so will the aggravation. ...