Today, the number of elderly recipients has dropped to about 2 million, 47 percent of the 4.3 million enrolled.

Mrs. Clinton argued forcefully that the Administration's plans would benefit the elderly recipients of Medicare and the poor who receive Medicaid coverage.

Millions of elderly and disabled recipients will no doubt find that it pays to sign up for the discount cards, which will cost a maximum of $30 a year.

The only exceptions will be for elderly recipients, mentally and physically disabled individuals and parents taking care of disabled children, Whitman administration officials said.

Politically, it might seem foolish to threaten any of the nation's 30 million elderly recipients.

In addition, the elderly, disabled and certain Social Security recipients may receive assistance by calling the Westchester Office for the Aging at 665-5900.

In particular he cited cuts affecting hospitals and the elderly or disabled recipients of home care.

But this group accounts for a large share of medicines used by the elderly: one-third of all spending on outpatient drugs for Medicare recipients.

For elderly recipients, the Government screens out people who earn too much money, and he was excluded for that reason.

First these contractors delay or withhold reimbursements until many elderly recipients forget, get confused or die.