By Matt Leingang
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ANDERSON TWP. - With the federal Medicare program about to offer cards with discounts on prescription drugs, the Bush administration's leading health policy adviser came here Friday to help clear up confusion for seniors about how it will work.

White House adviser Doug Badger, speaking at the New England Club retirement center, said seniors can begin enrolling in May.

Medicare is contracting with private companies to offer the cards until a broad Medicare prescription drug benefit starts in January 2006.

These interim discount cards will cost about $30 a year and offer discounts ranging from 10 to 25 percent on prescription drugs.

But Badger said the cards won't necessarily be better than prescription discount cards that some seniors already have. Discounts are available from a variety of groups, including AARP and Ohio's Golden Buckeye Card.

"You have to decide what is best for you. If you like what you already have, you can keep it," said Badger, who was a guest of U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park.

The seniors who will benefit most, Badger said, are those who have low incomes but don't qualify for Medicaid. If your income is $12,569 or less ($16,862 or less for a married couple), you might qualify for a $600 credit on your discount card.

Portman said he has been lobbying Medicare officials to offer its drug discounts through the Golden Buckeye Card, which Ohio automatically sends out to every state resident age 60 and older.

About 40 seniors attended Friday's talk. Many said they probably won't be affected by these new discount cards. They are either satisfied with their existing cards or have broad prescription drug coverage under employer-sponsored retirement plans.

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E-mail mleingang@enquirer.com