Final answer:
Ms. Gates, who is eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, can change her Medicare prescription drug plan at any point during the year due to special enrollment periods available for individuals with dual eligibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ms. Gates, who is dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, does not need to worry about being locked into a specific Medicare prescription drug plan for the entire year. Individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid have special enrollment periods that allow them to change plans outside of the usual enrollment windows. This means Ms. Gates can switch her Medicare prescription drug plan if her needs change or if she finds a plan that suits her better at any time during the year.
The Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 not only introduced the prescription drug benefit, which represents a significant expansion of Medicare to help with the cost of prescription drugs, but it also provided additional flexibilities for individuals like Ms. Gates. The introduction of these benefits has been a vital public health improvement, despite criticisms regarding costs and other issues.