Bush Winds Up Trip To Sell Drug Benefit

ORLANDO, May 10 -- President Bush concluded a three-day swing through Florida to promote the Medicare prescription drug plan Wednesday, telling an audience at a community center here that the program will lead to significant savings for most participants.

With the Monday enrollment deadline for the new benefit approaching, Bush has been pushing to get more people to sign up for the program, which has produced savings even as it has been criticized as being too complicated and too costly.

Bush has been counting on the program to provide a boost for Republicans in November's congressional elections. Although more seniors are embracing the Medicare benefit, much of the public remains skeptical. A new CNN poll found that 30 percent of senior citizens and 26 percent of the public think the plan is working.

More than 37 million of the 42 million people eligible have signed up or have adequate prescription drug coverage outside Medicare, according to federal officials. Many of the 5 million other senior citizens or disabled people who have not enrolled have low incomes that would qualify them for 95 percent coverage for most of their prescription drugs.

Seniors who do not enroll by Monday's deadline would face a penalty of 1 percent of the national average premium for each month an eligible beneficiary goes without drug insurance, which at current rates would be about 33 cents a month. The penalty would not apply to low-income participants.

In Washington, the congressional Democratic leaders, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Sen. Harry M. Reid (Nev.), joined hundreds of seniors in calling for a deadline extension -- which Bush has rejected. Proponents, who include some Republicans, call an extension necessary to give seniors more time to sort through the array of options the program offers. In Florida, participants can choose from more than 40 prescription plans, all with different co-payments, premiums and coverage.

Speaking at a Puerto Rican cultural center here, Bush said the program offers "an exciting opportunity for people to improve their lives." He shared the stage with several participants who said they are saving hundreds of dollars a month.

Gloria S. Lavergne, an Orlando senior citizen, said she takes six medications a day. She said she has saved $550 a month since enrolling in the drug plan two months ago.

"I know it sounds too good to be true," Bush said after Lavergne spoke. "Like, if I had said it, everybody would have said, 'Well, I think he's just -- you know -- just talking.' "