It will be important to get the full picture. We now know the number of organizations. From a consumer point of view, they may want to know the number of plans.

225

Choices can present opportunities, but the question is: What will seniors do when they face so many choices? ... Some will comparison shop, others might be heavily influenced by marketing and some may be paralyzed by so many choices. . . . Not everybody should sign up, because some people already have adequate coverage.

222

Seniors are still divided as to being favorable or unfavorable, but many still don't know enough to have an opinion.

190

Striking that there are so many businesses that have stepped up to the plate and are apparently eager to enroll people in Medicare.

170

That's a smaller share than many had feared.

151

Retirees who cancel their employer coverage and take the new federal benefit may not be able to go back if they later realize they've made a mistake.

129

It's really clear the drug benefit has attracted many, many businesses from throughout the country. What's less clear and really important is what they're offering and how seniors will respond to the opportunity to enroll.

118

The benefit may not be as generous as some would want. But what's most important is having insurance coverage that will help you pay for medicine if you become ill and run up huge drug bills.

117

They might want to think about this as insurance because their drug costs in a year might be higher than they are now. Just as when you buy insurance for fire, you don't want to see flames before you pay for the coverage.

101