Could they make this more confusing?

The good news for California's 4.3 million Medicare beneficiaries is that there are more than 60 prescription drug plans to choose from.

The bad news? There are more than 60 plans to choose from.

Additional bad news: Making the choice is time-consuming, confusing and often stressful.

"We've been inundated with calls. Our lines are jammed. We're seeing a lot of people with a lot of questions, and it can be very frustrating for them," says Deanne Beebe of the Medicare Rights Center, an independent nonprofit organization that helps educate seniors about Medicare.

Enrollment began Nov. 15 for Medicare's new prescription drug plan, also known as Medicare Part D. It will allow elderly and disabled Americans who are covered by the Medicare program to get subsidized drug coverage through private-insurance companies. Each region has its own set of drug plans, each with different benefits, costs and stipulations.

So let me get this straight. In typical government bureacracy, we've decided to confuse the elderly with so many choices that they don't ever get the drugs.

From Sign On San Diego.