MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Jean Newman is hardly afraid of challenges. The 73-year-old Cuban native came to the United States as a teen, worked for years as a substitute teacher and volunteered in the Israeli army well into her 50s.

But when it comes to the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, she is at a loss.

"The whole thing is so confusing. It might as well be in Chinese," Newman said.

Millions of senior citizens will become eligible for the benefit Jan. 1, but but many don't know whether it will save them money, or which private insurance plan they should choose among the dozens that have bombarded their mailboxes with ads in recent months. Many don't know how to apply or whether they are even eligible. And many are asking: Will the medications I need be covered?

The clock is ticking. Those who fail to sign up by May 15 may not get coverage until 2007.

Not only is this new entitlement going to cost working Americans billions, its also so confusing that a lot of the people it is intended to help apparently can't figure out how to use it. Or even if it would be beneficial for them to use it.

You gotta love socialism.