Campaign Highlights Medicare Options and Improved Information Resources

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today launched a national education campaign to help the nearly 40 million people with Medicare take advantage of resources available to them to answer their questions about options in Medicare, including health plans and coverage.

The campaign includes the mailing of the Medicare & You 2002 handbook to 34 million Medicare beneficiaries' homes and features Medicare's first national television ads. The annual education effort highlights important coverage options and Medicare's improved information resources, including the expanded 24 hour a day, 7 days a week service of 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and new decision tools on http://www.medicare.gov. Each of the campaign components informs people with Medicare about health care options and offers information to help them make informed decisions.

"Our annual research of seniors and disabled people shows that they love Medicare, they just don't understand it," said CMS Administrator Tom Scully. "Our beneficiaries are often confused about their Medicare coverage and don't know where to get help or information. We know that it is important for them to have the information they need to make the health care decisions that are right for them. The ads tell them where they can get more information about Medigap, Medicare+Choice, nursing homes, or any other service we cover.

"We want 'to help you help yourself' by knowing you can ask questions and by using Medicare's information resources to get help with questions," Scully said. You can call our toll-free telephone helpline, 1-800-MEDICARE, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, visit us at www.medicare.gov, or refer to the Medicare & You 2002 handbook." "We want you to ask questions - and we are ready with more and better answers."

In the past, callers to 1-800-MEDICARE could only receive general information about their Medicare. Now, customer service representatives have been trained to use CMS' new web-based tools to give callers specific information on all aspects of their Medicare coverage. Customer service representatives at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) can answer questions and mail specific information. People with Medicare or their caregivers can also access www.medicare.gov and immediately download information or CMS publications - from how to choose a nursing home, to how to select the most cost effective health plan, to how to select from a range of Medigap policies.

The $30 million national advertising campaign, aimed at people covered by Medicare and their caregivers, includes general market television and print, Spanish language television and radio, and Internet advertising. Veteran comic actor Leslie Nielson stars in the English television ads. The Spanish language television ads, featuring a grandmother with her daughter and granddaughter, reflect the importance of intergenerational relationships in many Hispanic families.

CMS worked with the Academy for Education Development to produce the ad campaign. AED used Campbell-Ewald to create the general market TV ads and with Muse Cordero Chen & Partners to create the Spanish language ads.