Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

House Democrats are pushing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reach out to low-income seniors who have not signed up for the Medicare Part D drug benefit.

CMS should work with the Social Security Administration to identify those seniors who are not enrolled in a Part D plan but are eligible for low-income subsidies, they wrote in a letter to CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan. A total of 146 members of the House Democratic Caucus signed the letter.

The letter said CMS should use “clear and concise language to advise low-income seniors of help available to them and that they can request that CMS choose a plan for them.” About 6 million seniors are dual eligibles and have been automatically enrolled in the benefit. Many of these are nursing home residents.