November 2, 2006 – Three industry groups that serve senior citizens enrolled in Medicare's drug program have joined together to produce their own Website to help seniors evaluate their prescription drug plan options for 2007. Where Medicare's Prescription Drug Plan Finder, helps seniors choose a specific plan, this site addresses the broader questions of the type of plan that is best for individual needs.

At the new site - http://www.healthdecisions.org/guide - beneficiaries can work through an interactive prescription drug plan guide to determine which type of drug plan best meets their individual needs.

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) launched this interactive online guide as part of an ongoing national campaign to educate seniors about their prescription drug plan choices.

The guide provides clear and concise information to help seniors and their loved ones evaluate their current prescription drug plan and make decisions about future coverage. The interactive format helps seniors examine their specific priorities and preferences, assess their current needs, and navigate through the different plan options to choose the right type of coverage.

"By offering this guide online, we can ensure that more seniors have access to the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health care coverage," said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO, AHIP.

"The online guide offers beneficiaries a quick and easy way to get accurate information about the Medicare prescription drug benefit and the different types of plans available."

The website includes the following user-friendly features to allow for easy decision-making:

  ● A 3-step tutorial designed to assist beneficiaries with the enrollment process

  ● Worksheets that can be completed online and printed at home

  ● A progress bar prominently displayed on the bottom of each page to help beneficiaries understand where they are in this step-by-step process

  ● Savings Tips, an online Glossary, and helpful links to other online resources

  ● The ability to download and print the guide to allow users to work through it offline

  ● Directions for beneficiaries to Medicare.gov to identify the best plan in their area

A print version of the guide, Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Guide: How to Choose Your 2007 Plan, is being distributed through community retail pharmacies, Congressional district offices, State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) offices, and other outlets. Health care professionals, volunteer counselors, and local pharmacists can use this guide to provide much needed educational assistance to seniors who are currently evaluating their prescription drug plan choices.

Editor's Notes:

America's Health Insurance Plans says its members are providing health benefits to more than 200 million Americans.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) represents the nation's leading retail chain pharmacies and suppliers, helping them better meet the changing needs of their patients and customers. Chain pharmacies operate more than 37,000 pharmacies, employ 114,000 pharmacists, fill more than 2.3 billion prescriptions yearly, and have annual sales of nearly $700 billion.

The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898 as the National Association of Retail Druggists, represents the nation's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 24,000 pharmacies. The nation's independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines.

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