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Open Enrollment for 2008 Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Ends December 31 (12/12/07)
Open enrollment for 2008 Medicare prescription drug coverage – the period during which beneficiaries can join or switch Medicare drug plans – ends December 31.
Two online tools – the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) “Plan Finder” and “Options Compare” – can help beneficiaries compare and find plans that best meet their needs. Beneficiaries without Internet access can get comparison information by calling 800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
Medicare prescription drug plans may change their formularies, co-pays, and other policies from year to year. For that reason, even beneficiaries who are happy with their current Medicare drug coverage should check whether their plans will still provide the best fit in 2008.
Though open enrollment ends December 31, CMS advises beneficiaries to select or change plans by early December, to ensure a smooth transition on January 1. The next open enrollment period won’t begin until Nov 15, 2008.
Low-income beneficiaries may qualify for “extra help” with drug plan monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments. For more information and to apply to the Social Security Administration for this assistance, they can contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Online information and applications are also available. The National Council on Aging’s BenefitsCheckUp Web site offers a streamlined way to apply.
New Information on Part D Premiums and the Coverage Gap in 2008 (12/05/07)
The Kaiser Family Foundation has made available two new resources providing updated information on Medicare drug plans for 2008. The first spotlight examines 2008 premiums for Part D plans, while the second spotlight addresses the coverage gap or “doughnut hole.”
The first spotlight looks at premiums across the 1,824 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans that will be available in 2008. Premiums for Part D plans will range from $9.80 per month to $107.50 per month. If enrollees remain in their same plan in 2008, the average monthly premium would increase from $27.39 in 2007 to $31.99 in 2008, an increase of 17 percent. For additional information on premiums for Part D plans in 2008, click here.
The second spotlight examines the “doughnut hole.” Beneficiaries who reach $2,510 in total drug costs in 2008 will be required to pay 100 percent of drug costs until they qualify for catastrophic coverage. In 2008, more than a quarter of Part D plans and half of Medicare Advantage will offer some type of coverage during the gap, mostly for generic drugs. For additional information on the “doughnut hole,” click here.
Medicare Drug Coverage under Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D (9/25/07)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has made available a tip sheet providing an overview of drug coverage under Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage). Medicare Part A may cover drugs as part of a patient’s inpatient treatment during a stay in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, however, Part A generally does not pay for outpatient prescription drugs. Part B drug coverage is generally limited to drugs that are given by infusion or injection as part of a doctor's visit, such as a flu or pneumococcal shot. The Medicare Part D program provides comprehensive prescription drug coverage and covers both generic and brand-name drugs.
For more information, download and print the tip sheet here
Helping Loved Ones To Apply for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs (7/20/07)
The Social Security Administration has made available a brochure describing how to help a loved one apply for extra assistance with their Medicare prescription drug costs. This extra help is available for some people with limited income and resources, and will pay for all or most of the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments related to their plan.
The brochure includes a worksheet to assist you in helping Medicare beneficiaries to complete the application for extra help.
For more information, download and print the brochure here.
SA to Send Letters to Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Informing them of Available Help With Costs (5/17/07)
About 4.7 million low-income Medicare beneficiaries will receive letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing them of the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) and the extra assistance available to help them cover the costs of Medicare prescription drug plans. The letters will arrive between May 16 and June 26.
The MSP helps Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes pay for Part A and B premiums, deductibles and co-insurance. Information about eligibility requirements is on the CMS Web site.
Campaign Encourages Seniors To Make Most of Medicare's Preventative Services (5/17/07)
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are launching a campaign to educate seniors about the preventive health benefits available to them under Medicare. The campaign, A Healthier US Starts Here, will travel the country this spring and summer teaching seniors the importance of, and motivating them to take advantage of Medicare's preventive health services. The goal of the campaign is to improve the health of the 43 million people with Medicare coverage. Full Story
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