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Medicare Drug Program News
Senior Citizens About to Face Their Medicare Drug
Plan Decision, Again
 Enrollment opens Nov. 15 to change to
better plan
September 14, 2006 Remember the agony you went
through last year in trying to figure out which of Medicare's multitude
of prescription drug programs you should join? Guess what, senior
citizens are about to have a chance to do it all over again, if they are
not happy with last year's choice many may not be due to a change
in their drug needs.
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Beginning on November 15, the window will open
again and seniors, as well as others covered by Medicare, will have the
chance to choose a new drug plan that better fits their needs, which may
have changed from last year.
For example, maybe you were not taking any
prescription drugs last year, so you went for a low monthly premium and
high deductible, just to be safe and prudent. Things may have changed
this year now you are taking lots of drugs and need to find a plan
that will pay more of your cost.
Well, you have just six week to make the choice.
The window will close on December 31, and you are stuck for another
year.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is
saying, however, that seniors need to enroll in a new play be December
8, to ensure they have their new prescription drug card in early January
of 2007.
Beneficiaries who are satisfied with their drug
coverage can continue it in 2007, said CMS Administrator Mark
McClellan. But in 2007, because of strong competition, most
beneficiaries will have options that cost less and that offer additional
coverage, and we are providing enhanced support if they want to look at
these options.
McClellan was joined yesterday by Mike Leavitt,
Secretary of Health and Human Services, to kick off the My Health. My
Medicare. CMS says this program will introduce "new tools" to assist
beneficiaries in this year's Part D enrollment periond.
'My Health. My Medicare' is the next step in
helping the 43 million Americans with Medicare make the most of their
benefits, so they can stay healthier and spend less on their medical
care, said Dr. McClellan.
By providing personalized assistance online, on
the phone and in person, with the help of partners all across the
country -- we can help beneficiaries and their families make informed
and confident choices about their health and Medicare coverage.
To assist beneficiaries in making decisions about
their Medicare benefits, the Fall campaign has been divided into the
following segments:
● September is the time for beneficiaries to
compare their health needs to the coverage they have and prepare
questions about their coverage.
● October is whey they should evaluate benefits,
using the one-page Medicare Checkup as a guide.
● November is the month to choose a new plan or
change plans, if desired.
● December gives beneficiaries the opportunity to
maximize their benefits, working with their doctor to develop a
personalized plan for prevention.
McClellan also took the opportunity to through in a
plug for the importance of Medicares preventive benefits and their role
in protecting people from cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and
flu and pneumonia.
In just two years, Medicare has undergone
unprecedented improvements in benefits, including the addition of
prescription drug coverage and new and updated preventive care, added
Leavitt.
Were going to work with people to help them make
the most of their benefits to stay healthier so they can spend less on
doctors and hospitals, and even less on prescription drugs.
More than 38 million Medicare beneficiaries, or 90
percent, now have some form of drug coverage, according to CMS.
More than 3 million prescriptions are being filled
every day, while saving people with Medicare drug plans an average of
$1,200 a year.
Program costs are 25 percent less than predicted
last year. According to recent surveys, more than 80 percent of people
in plans are satisfied with their coverage.
Vital to the success of this years Part D
enrollment campaign was the participation of 40,000 partners who helped
organize nearly 50,000 events in just six months, and our partners are
vital to the success of 'My Health. My Medicare' as well, said
McClellan.
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