California Health Advocates Press Release
California Public Television Program Helps Seniors Navigate Medicare Part D
“Medicare Forum: Making Sense of Part D” airs on Public Television stations in California, with support from the California HealthCare Foundation
March 23, 2006 – With the initial deadline to enroll in Part D approaching, millions of Americans remain confused about the new prescription drug benefit. Many of the 4.2 million eligible Californians have questions about coverage and how to select the right plan from dozens available.
Medicare Forum: Making Sense of Part D, a half-hour television program to be broadcast on PBS stations throughout the state (see below for statewide broadcast dates), will address essential and commonly asked questions about this new and complex drug benefit. The program is made possible by a grant from the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF), an independent philanthropy committed to improving the delivery and financing of health care in California.
Live Individual Q&A
During selected broadcasts and afterward, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) counselors will take calls from viewers to answer their questions.
The in studio program will feature an in-depth discussion hosted by noted broadcast journalist Dave Iverson. Other in-studio participants will include Medicare experts from the California Department of Aging’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program and California Health Advocates, who will examine the most important issues people face when enrolling in the new Medicare drug benefit.
Practical Information for Seniors
The broadcast will address issues on consumers’ minds, such as:
- Part D eligibility
- The benefits of enrolling
- Penalties for late enrollment
- Choosing the plan that fits your needs
“With at least 49 drug plans in every California county, Medicare consumers and their caregivers are struggling to understand this new drug benefit and choose a plan that fits their needs,” said Merry Davis, program officer at CHCF. “This innovative pubic education effort is designed to provide practical information that helps people with their decision-making.’’
Medicare Forum will be distributed by California Public Television to all 14 public television stations in the state
Medicare Forum is produced by KQED. The executive producer is Louise Lo; producer is Bud Gundy.
California Public Television is an association of all 14 public television providing service to over 98% of all Californians. Stations include KEET- Eureka, KIXE – Chico Redding, KVIE – Sacramento, KRCB – Rohnert Park, KQED – San Francisco, KMTP – San Francisco, KCSM – San Mateo, KTEH/KJOI – San Jose-Salinas-Monterey, KVPT/KJOI – Fresno – Bakersfield, KVCR – San Bernardino, KCET – Los Angeles, KLCS – Los Angles, KOCE – Orange County and KPBS – San Diego.
The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF), based in Oakland, is an independent philanthropy committed to improving California’s health care delivery and financing systems. Visit www.chcf.org for more information.