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Medicare Drug Program News
Medicare to Introduce New Web Page to Help Senior
Citizens Choose Drug Plans
'Medicare Options Compare' will launch on October
12
September 27, 2006 – Medicare will introduce on
October 12 a new Web page to help senior citizens make decisions in
selecting a new drug plan during the enrollment period that begins
November 15. The old "Medicare Personal Plan Finder," used
by millions in the first year, will become "Medicare Options Compare."
This is one of the new tools being introduced in the fall promotion
campaign called "My Health. My Medicare." The campaign will also
emphasize the preventive care features of the basic Medicare program.
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Important Dates |
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• October 1:
Plans begin marketing
• Mid-October:
2007 Plan Data and enhanced Plan Finder available
• October 31:
Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and Medicare & You Handbook must
be in the mail to beneficiaries
• November
15th: Open Enrollment Begins
• December 8th:
Optimum Date for Early Enrollment to Ensure Timely Processing
• December
31st: Open Enrollment Ends |
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Those who wish to change prescription drug plans will have
six weeks, between November 15 and December 31, to enroll in a new plan.
But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is urging beneficiaries
to sign up before December 8 to ensure they have their new prescription
drug card in hand to fill prescriptions in early January.
“Beneficiaries who are satisfied with their drug
coverage can continue it in 2007,” said Administrator Dr. 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.”
To assist beneficiaries in making decisions, the
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.
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Website Enhancements with new
"Medicare Options Compare" |
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Medicare says
that on October 12, 2006 you will be able to compare Medicare
drug plan and health plan options easier.
Some of the enhancements are:
Appearance
• The same data is present, it just has a
cleaner look
• More streamlined navigation
• Reduced page scrolling
• Simplified text
Personal Information
• Enter personal information (such as
Medicare number, date of birth) to get more personalized
information about current enrollment and the options available
• Enter current drugs and get a
personalized comparison of plans and benefits
• Save prescription drug information,
pharmacy information, and up to 10 plans without having to
re-enter that data (available only on the Medicare Prescription
Drug Plan Finder)
View and Compare Plans
• View 2006 and 2007 plan information
• Compare out-of-pocket costs
(information re-launched in Medicare Options Compare)
• Compare plans based on price and
benefit structure
• Sort plans based on Estimated Annual
Cost or narrow the search based on what is important to the user
(for example, premium or drug coverage)
• Narrow plans down by state and
preference, such as drug plans with no coverage gap or with low
premiums (available on the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Finder, select “Plans in Your Area” section on the website)
• “Plans in Your Area” replaces the
landscape page from last year—streamlines the information and
provides a cleaner display
• Start the Medigap comparison from the
Home Page
• In the Medigap section, view Medigap
policies that are offered to people under age 65 Monthly Cost
Estimator (available only on the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Finder)
• Displays a personalized chart outlining
12 months of a user’s expected monthly costs
• Provides users with information on how
to save money on their prescription drug (select “Lower My Cost
Share” section on the website) |
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● 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.
“In just two years, Medicare has undergone
unprecedented improvements in benefits, including the addition of
prescription drug coverage and new and updated preventive care,” said
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt.
“Equally important and thanks to our tens of
thousands of dedicated partners, Medicare now has a substantial
grassroots support network. With their help, we’ll be putting a greater
emphasis on prevention through the My Health. My Medicare campaign.
“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
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.”
“Getting affordable prescription drugs is
important. It's also critical to underscore the importance of Medicare’s
preventive benefits and their role in protecting people from cancer,
heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and Flu and pneumonia,” Dr. McClellan
added.
Medicare says this promotion builds on the solid
success of the past year’s enrollment efforts: more than 38 million
Medicare beneficiaries, or 90 percent, now have some form of drug
coverage.
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 year’s 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.
“Coupled with our personalized information
resources, this network is transforming Medicare’s ability to help
people use their coverage, stay healthier, and reduce their health care
costs.”
For more information
visit http://www.medicare.gov.
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