A group of volunteers plans to travel around Wyoming in a recreational vehicle to tell seniors about Medicare’s prescription drug coverage.

“This bus is going to have smooth tires by the time it ends this campaign,” Carolyn Paseneaux, a volunteer with AARP and former state legislator, said Tuesday.


The Medicare Rx Express RV, on loan from a retired dentist in Colorado, is expected to begin its travels next month. “We want to educate people about the importance of making the choice to enroll,” said Mike Fierberg, spokesman for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“There are some people who have a good plan and don’t need to do anything. For people who don’t have existing coverage or have it at market rates, they’re going to be much better off at the end of the day with our plan.”

The new plans, subsidized by the government and offered by private insurers who will compete for customers, are part of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.

It was the biggest change for Medicare since the program began in the 1960s.

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said only 16 percent of seniors have signed up for discount cards.

“This is an opportunity to take Medicare to the people instead of the people having to come to the Medicare,” he said. “Now we’re going to have a mechanism where you can go out and talk to someone face to face.”

The RV is expected to visit senior centers, libraries, banks, municipal buildings, clinics and hospitals.