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November 2005 Vol. 24. No. 11
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
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Medicare drug plans: take time to choose well by Anne Antoville You can enroll in a Medicare drug plan as early as Nov. 15. There will be many choices of Medicare plans available locally. Companies marketing plans are spending as much as $80 million in advertising and deploying agents to sell their plans. Some beneficiaries are feeling pressured to make an immediate decision regarding Medicare drug plans; however there are many reasons to take time to make the right choice for your particular needs. "Rule No. 1 is, don't rush through the decision-making process," says Robert Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, an independent, nonprofit national consumer service organization. "Promotional material is not educational material, so there will be spin and hucksterism." Enrollment Timeline You can enroll in a Medicare drug plan until May 15, 2006, and not incur any penalties for late enrollment. If you currently have drug coverage that is equal to or better than Medicare you will not incur any penalties if you decide to enroll after May 2006. Note: If you have full scope Medi-Cal, (Medi-Cal with no share of cost) you must use a Medicare drug plan beginning in January 2006. Pharmacy Access Plans will contract with specific pharmacies. You may want to choose a plan that will work at the pharmacy you prefer to use. Formularies, Premiums and Co-pays Don't be blinded by premium costs. A plan that offers a low monthly rate may have a large deductible, sizable co-pays or both. You will want to be sure that the drugs you need most are covered by the plan. If not, you will have to pay the full out-of-pocket cost unless you win an appeal. If your drugs are covered, what's the co-pay? Are your drugs on the preferred list at the same dosages? Are there conditions? Do the plans require step therapy, meaning you'll have to start with or switch to the lowest-cost drug first before trying more expensive ones? Fraud Alert Medicare drug plans cannot ask for personal information such as social security number, credit card or bank information over the phone. Do not give this information to anyone who calls you on the telephone. If you ask a drug plan to stop calling you, they must honor your verbal request. Ask HICAP For free help you can call HICAP, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, at 443-9747 in Humboldt and 464-7876 in Del Norte. Anne Antoville is HICAP manager. |
Senior News