WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A study released Monday finds that Medicare health maintenence organizations' marketing activities appear to target physically active seniors, rather than the full range of Medicare beneficiaries, such as those in poor health or under 65 and disabled.

The Kaiser Family Foundation study of how HMOs market to the elderly and disabled Medicare beneficiaries found more than half of television ads portray seniors engaged in biking, snorkling and riding amusement park rides. None of the visuals in either newspapers or TV ads show people in hospitals or using wheelchairs or walkers.

Nearly one third of the marketing seminars attended by researchers were not wheelchair accessible and many of the ads published important information in fine print -- difficult to read even to a trained researcher.

The study's intent was not to "point fingers" but to see how advertising fits in the array of options for Medicare information.

The research concluded there is a greater challenge than expected in getting information out on cost, quality and access of Medicare HMOs.