By Tim Bonfield
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sally Coaston (left) and Betty Anderson, both of Madisonville, gather with other seniors to get information about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit plan during a Medicare road show, sponsored by the Working In Neighborhoods Senior Action Coalition Friday at the Madisonville Recreation Center in Madisonville. The Cincinnati Enquirer/GARY LANDERS

MADISONVILLE - With enrollment beginning May 3 for the new, temporary Medicare drug discount cards, Bond Hill resident Lula Wilks wanted to get a few things straight.

So, before a crowd of about 250 seniors who gathered Friday at the Madisonville Recreation Center, she asked the experts a few simple questions.

What she and other seniors got in return was an earful about how complicated this program is going to be.

"Every trip to the drug store will be a little bit of an adventure," said Bill Vaughn, director of government affairs for the consumer group Families USA. "You will have to become careful shoppers, folks."

Yes, more than 20 different companies will be offering "Medicare approved" discount cards in Greater Cincinnati. Yes, you can enroll in only one. And, yes, the card companies can change the drugs they cover and the discounts they offer - without notice - as often as once a week. But you can't switch cards until next year.

But look at it this way. You might get discounts of up to 20 percent from what you were being charged before. Some low-income seniors might get even more.

You don't have to buy a card, Vaughn said. And even if what started out as a decent discount evaporates down the road, you probably will save more than the $20 to $30 fees most cards will charge.

Cincinnati was the 15th stop out of 22 cities that Families USA is visiting this spring to help seniors understand the details of the recently-passed Medicare prescription drug reforms.

After the meeting, many seniors were left shaking their heads in confusion, disappointment or outright anger.

"How can you expect one person to understand all this?" asked Clifton resident Ray Davis.

"Seniors don't have the time to go through all this mess," said Marilyn Evans of South Cumminsville.

"You know, the people sitting here are paying taxes for the government that is putting us in this position," said Hamilton resident John Stanzak. "I think it is time for a revolution. Go out and vote. Put some people in there with some guts."

Still, come May 3, there will be a new card available. And some seniors stand to benefit.

E-mail tbonfield@enquirer.com