Part D: There’s still time to decide!
There is plenty of time to make a good decision. Actually you have until May 15, 2006 to get in on this open enrollment period.
Don’t forget to check out the opportunities that you have for assistance to pay for the Part Drug Plans. Don’t eliminate yourself by looking only at the published limits, there is more to it than meets the eye.
DP FITCH
**********************
Press Release Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Medicare Part D Coverage Begins January 1
Tuesday December 20, 3:42 pm ET
Minnesota Seniors in a Position to Take Advantage of Increased Coverage, Savings
EAGAN, Minn., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Perhaps the most valuable gift some people can give their loved ones this holiday season is help understanding the new Medicare prescription drug program and encouragement to sign up for it. The good news amid some of the confusion about Part D is that there is still time to get good information and make a decision about enrolling in a Part D plan with coverage for prescription drugs beginning January 1, 2006.
Medicare Part D offers prescription drug coverage for all Medicare members, regardless of income or existing health conditions. Because of the government subsidy built into Part D, seniors are able to get more prescription drug coverage at a lower price than many are currently paying. In addition, there are a variety of Part D plan choices available to Medicare members that are tailored to meet all levels of income and health care needs. The anticipated benefits have led tens of thousands Minnesota seniors to enroll in Blue Cross Part D plans this year, so they can start taking advantage of the costs savings right away in 2006.
In a recent survey conducted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, nearly one in four Minnesotans over age 65 said they now spend more than $100 a month in out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. These and other findings in the Blue Cross survey indicate that Minnesotans are poised to take great advantage of what Part D can offer in savings, coverage and peace of mind.
“Minnesota seniors are spending too much on prescription drugs, but they have an opportunity to start saving soon if they enroll in a Part D plan before the end of the year,” said Deborah Madson, vice president for government programs at Blue Cross. “This might seem like an overwhelming decision and getting help from a family member or friend can help eliminate the confusion so people can enroll in a prescription drug plan that will best meet their needs and start showing benefits in the very near future.”
For Part D coverage beginning January 1, 2006, seniors must enroll by December 31, 2005. There are a number of ways family members and friends can assist a loved one in deciding about a Part D plan, including confirming the type of prescription drug coverage they currently have, creating a list of prescription drugs they take, helping navigate the official Medicare Web site to evaluate available plans or placing a call to the Minnesota Senior Linkage Line. If people are not ready to sign up for a Part D plan before the end of the year, they still have time to sign up before May 15, 2006 to avoid the government-imposed penalty.
The official Medicare Web site — http://www.Medicare.gov — features information about Part D plan options, how to enroll and tools to help seniors calculate their monthly drug expenses. Medicare also offers personalized assistance over the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) or TTY/TDD at 1-877-486-2048. The Minnesota Senior LinkAge Line is at 1-800-333-2433.
In addition to government resources, many private health plans are offering meetings where seniors can get one-on-one attention and answers to their questions. Nearly 7,000 Minnesotans have already attended Be Medicare Aware meetings hosted by Blue Cross.
“The overwhelming response to the Be Medicare Aware forums is evidence of the interest and the questions seniors have about Part D,” said Deborah Madson, vice president for government programs at Blue Cross. Blue Cross has also created a special Web site — http://www.YourMedicareSolutions.com — to help Minnesotans get the information they need to make a decision about Part D.
Only 41 percent of 60-64 year olds in Minnesota feel confident about being able to afford their health care expenses in five years, according to the Blue Cross study. With the cost of prescription drugs — and the increasing role they play in health care regimens — Medicare Part D offers a way for Minnesota seniors to take back some control over their health and their pocketbooks.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota’s first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.6 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to http://www.bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.