Boston Globe:

Yesterday, it was claimed that 11.5 million have signed up for Part D.  As a result,  the administration is claiming that there are now 38.7 million people with prescritption drug coverage.  However, most who did enroll, chose the lowest price plan that may or may not cover all of their prescriptions.  According to Robert Hayes, of the Medicare Rights Center,

“The moral dilemma is that the people in greatest need are the people still unenrolled.  Unless we can dramatically increase the number of the poorest Americans in this program, we need to reexamine the best way to meet the primary objective of the law.”

continued

Take the case of Martin Brower:

 
His monthly supply of blood pressure medication would cost less if he didn’t use his Medicare plan.

The plan allowed him a maximum of 30 pills for $1.32 each. Without it, he could get 100 pills for $1.13 apiece.

For now, Brower’s wife is faring better under Part D, unless she hits the donut hole/coverage gap.

In addition, former president of the California Pharmacists Assn., Ralph Saroyan, was under the impression that he had chosen the best possible plan for his mother as she needs name brand prescriptions, as opposed to generics.  But, he had to accept generic versions, as the reimbursement rates would not cover the cost of the name brands.  In addition, the copays were $18.00 per month for 30 pills.  If the Part D plan was not used, the cost of the prescritpions was $25.00 for one hundred pills.

This is in addition to the costs that are described when one hits the donut hole/coverage gap.

In addition, those who were automatically enrolled in a plan are counted in the above figure cited.