The rest were either enrolled automatically by the government or they will receive benefits through their private health care plans. Medicare opened enrollment in the program on Nov. 15; it ends May 15.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt told reporters that the government expects to sign up between 28 million and 30 million people for the benefit during its first year. Medicare provides health care to 42 million older and disabled Americans.

''We're encouraged by the early results,'' Leavitt said. ''You'll find you'll save money and you'll never have to worry about high drug costs in the future.''

But Robert M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center based in New York, said Thursday that less than 5 percent of seniors who could voluntarily enroll have done so, and said the administration's characterization of enrollment is misleading.

"Nearly 20 million of the 21 million people with Medicare that the administration announced today as having drug coverage already had drug coverage," Hayes said in a press release. "Any honest appraisal of the drug program's performance demands an immediate restructuring to enact a drug benefit that would offer nationwide, understandable and affordable drug coverage through Medicare."

The enrollment figures cited by the government include: 11.1 million retirees covered through employers; 4.4 million enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans; and, 6.2 million "dual eligibles" who are on Medicaid and are being automatically enrolled in plans. That leaves 21.3 million Medicare beneficiaries eligible to enroll in prescription plans. Just 1 million of those have done so.

Of the 7.2 million low-income seniors who are eligible for subsidies to help pay for drug coverage, just 661,000 have signed up, according to the Social Security Administration.

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Tribune reporter Brooke

Adams contributed to this report.