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Medicare Drug Program News
Average Medicare Drug Plan to Cost $3 More in 2009
but Lower Price Options Available to Most
National average monthly premium for basic drug
benefit in 2009 projected to average $28; Medicare Advantage available
to all
 Sept.
25, 2008 - The average monthly premium for a Medicare Part D stand-alone
prescription drug plan will jump about $3 in 2009 to $28. But, Medicare
say, about 97 percent of senior citizens will have access to
drug and health plans in 2009 whose premiums would be the same or less
than in 2008. It may, however, mean changing plans, according
to an announcement today by Medicare of drug plan and Medicare Advantage
options for 2009.
The national average monthly premium for the basic
Medicare drug benefit in 2009 is projected to average approximately $28,
which Medicare estimated earlier this year for the standard Medicare
Part D coverage in 2009. This is about $3 higher than this year but 37
percent lower than was projected back in 2003.
The increase is due to general trends in drug
costs, the phase-out of a CMS demonstration project, and higher plan
estimates for catastrophic coverage based on prior experience, according
to a CMS news release in August. (click
here to read earlier story)
Some beneficiaries may see significant premium
increases or changes, such as reduced coverage in the gap, if they stay
in the same prescription drug plan in 2009, warned Kerry Weems, Acting
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
We encourage individual beneficiaries to review
how their plans are changing and what other options are available to
them to determine which plan best meets their needs.
Weems also said, As we enter the fourth year of
the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, we continue to see high
satisfaction rates among beneficiaries and high participation among
plans.
In every state, beneficiaries will have access to
at least one prescription drug plan with premiums of less than $20 a
month, except for beneficiaries living in Alaska who will have access to
one prescription drug plan at $23 a month.
Those who qualify for the full Medicare subsidy
will pay no premiums or deductibles in these plans.
Beneficiaries will continue to have access to
prescription drug plans that offer a wide range of design options,
including zero deductible plans. Plans with coverage in the gap for
generics are available in every state.
Medicare Advantage Plans
In 2009, 100 percent of beneficiaries will have
access to a Medicare Advantage plan.
Many will continue to have access to Medicare
Advantage plans that have prescription drug coverage (MA-PDs) and more
than 93 percent of people with Medicare will have access to a MA-PD for
a $0 premium and with a $0 drug deductible.
Marketing of 2009 plans will begin October 1 under
new marketing requirements.
These new requirements are meant to protect
Medicare beneficiaries from deceptive or high-pressure marketing tactics
by insurance companies and their agents, said Weems.
This fall CMS will be conducting numerous outreach
events to help new beneficiaries and help those already enrolled
understand their plan choices.
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Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis
Medicare has Created Wild West Marketplace, Older
Americans Ripe for Exploitation
President of Medicare Rights Center on choice of
prescription drug and Medicare health plans for 2009
By
Robert M. Hayes, President, Medicare Rights Center
 Sept.
26, 2008 - Once again, all across the country, people with Medicare will
face for 2009 a bewildering choice of nearly 50 prescription drug plans
and over 40 Medicare health plans, including HMOs, PPOs, and private
fee-for-service plans of every variety. It is a Wild West marketplace
and older Americans are ripe for exploitation.
Read
more...
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We want to make sure that every beneficiary knows
where to go for individualized advice and counseling, said Weems.
Details about the specific plans in each region
will be available mid-October at
www.medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE.
Open enrollment for prescription drug coverage
begins November 15 and ends December 31.
Beneficiaries who want to review their current
coverage as well as the other options available to them will have access
to information and assistance from many sources including:
● A notice of any coverage changes from their
current prescription drug plan, by October 31st ,
● The enhanced Medicare Drug Plan Finder,
available in mid-October;
● Toll free information available 24/7 at
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227);
● The annual Medicare & You 2009 handbook that
explains Medicare coverage, to be mailed in October; and
● Local organizations such as the State Health
Insurance Assistance Programs and thousands of other Medicare partner
organizations that will provide personalized assistance throughout the
fall.
The list of national stand-alone prescription drug
plans and state specific fact sheets can be found at:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/openenrollment.asp
The Link to the 2009 Landscape Data: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/
Beneficiaries should expect to hear from the
health and prescription drug plans in their communities and should be
assured that CMS has new oversight tools available to ensure they have a
positive experience, said Weems.
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