Sebelius touts health-care law during stop in Pa.

The country’s top health official spoke to senior citizens in Hershey, Pa., last week about enrolling in Medicare. She also took the opportunity to stump for President Obama’s health package.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius spoke to about 50 seniors to kick off open season for choosing Medicare coverage.

Sebelius says Medicare options have never been better.

“Premiums are not going up at all this year,” she said. “And, in fact, the coverage is getting better because those of you who might’ve hit the so-called doughnut hole, the gap in prescription drug coverage, there will be an even more substantial discount this year for drugs at the donut hole coverage.”

She also touted the benefits of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which provides new means to prevent and go after Medicare fraud.

“Last year, those efforts alone returned $4 billion to the Medicare trust fund,” she said.

Ken Booth of Hummelstown gets his Medicare through his union. After hearing Sebelius speak, he said he’s still skeptical the government can cover the program’s costs.

“More baby boomers now are joining the ranks of senior citizens. And it’s almost impossible to tell me that it’s cheaper to take care of more people than it is less,” he said.

Open enrollment for Medicare continues through Dec. 7 for the 48 million Americans who use Medicare for health-care services.