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The much-hyped program becomes effective in January. Because of the new law's complexity, however, it might take until then for potential beneficiaries to figure out how much they will have to pay out of their own pockets for their medicines -- the critical piece of information in determining whether to enroll.

Even one of Medicare's top administrators admits that deciphering the new program is difficult. That's why he is on tour to explain it to the nation's roughly 43 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Mark McClellan, administrator for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is scheduled to be in Pittsburgh today to discuss the plan's promises and challenges with media and local officials.

He spoke Wednesday to the Tribune-Review from his car while traveling to Youngstown, Ohio, after visiting Buffalo and Erie. He was to arrive in town this afternoon after visiting Cleveland and Akron, Ohio.

"Complexity of the program is a concern for us. Our goal is to have plenty of local support so that people who have questions can get answers," McClellan said. "Secretary (of Health and Human Services Mike) Leavitt and I will stop in 75 cities this month, answering questions from seniors and meeting with local community leaders and groups like the agencies on aging and others that advise the elderly."

The Medicare prescription drug benefit was a major portion of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Beginning Nov. 15, all eligible Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for the benefit, through what's known as Medicare Part D. The plan goes into effect on Jan. 1.

"We want everyone that is eligible for this benefit to make an informed choice, an informed decision about what they wish to do," McClellan said.

The problem is that the amount of information that Medicare beneficiaries will have to process could prove overwhelming, experts say.

"Confusion on the part of potential participants is a major problem," said Tom Tomczyk, a consultant with Mercer Consulting in Pittsburgh. "The CMS (Medicare) people are doing a yeoman's job trying to get the word out, but how do you get the word out to low-income people?"

"If you have no prescription coverage now, and are not enrolled in PACE (the state's prescription program for seniors), this program is a godsend," said Jere Cowden, president of benefits consulting firm Cowden Associates Inc. "But I don't think anyone understood the complexity of this program."

One wrinkle in the new law punishes seniors who delay their enrollment.

Tomczyk said that those eligible for the new prescription drug program who don't immediately enroll after receiving information in the mail -- either because they don't want the benefit, or can't understand it -- will be assessed a penalty equal to 1 percent of the premium for each month they delay.

A summary of the plan's basic coverage is as follows:

Beginning next year, Medicare drug plan enrollees will have access to two or more plans offered by companies hired by Medicare to provide the new drug benefit. Enrollees will pay a monthly premium, called Part D, expected to average $37 a month.

On top of the drug plan premium, enrollees must pay the first $250 in prescription drug costs -- the deductible -- before the benefit kicks in.

After the deductible is met, the program covers 75 percent of all drug costs up to $2,250, meaning the enrollee could pay another $750 out of his/her pocket.

There is no coverage between $2,250 and $5,100 in drug costs. The program then covers 95 percent of drug costs over $5,100.

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