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-- Programs and Services -- Contact Information It's Medicare Part D open enrollment season
By Margie Ware
It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been two years since the inception of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. Now the program is firmly embedded into the consciousness of both the beneficiary community and the public at large. So what do Medicare recipients need to know as we enter the annual open enrollment period?
First, it’s time to take your prescription drug “temperature.” Has anything changed in terms of your universe of medications? It may be time to talk to a SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders) counselor about whether the plan you currently have is still appropriate; especially if you haven’t revisited the process in the last 24 months.
October marks the time when the Medicare Part D plans let us know what their intentions are for 2008. If they are going to raise prices, or drop products from their formulary or add new benefits, this is the time that they let us all know. If you belong to a Medicare Part D plan, you will receive something called an “ANOC,” which in layperson’s language is an Annual Notice of Change. It’s very important to read this document.
One of the things we learned last year during the open enrollment for 2007 was that what could seem like subtle changes can have a profound effect on your life. One company removed one of their most popular benefits — coverage of brand name drugs when someone was in the “doughnut hole.” Another company arbitrarily raised its members up one level when they went from a two-level to a three-level plan. We’re still trying to straighten some of the fallout from that decision! Other companies expanded their offerings and lowered their prices, becoming a better “deal” for more consumers.
If you don’t ask, you won’t know. So consider asking a SHINE volunteer to analyze your drug list and make sure that the program you’re in is still appropriate. If there is little financial difference between the optimum program and the one you’re in, you may want to consider sticking with what you have. There are always “risks” associated with changing plans, because the computer systems that organize these things are not foolproof. But certainly if you have experienced customer service problems or high co-pays you will want to consider switching plans.
The best news is that the Prescription Advantage (PA) program is open for enrollment anytime. If you are already a member of PA, and you switch plans, be sure you notify PA of that fact. If you don’t belong to PA, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity to join this wonderful program that provides considerable benefits, often at no cost to the consumer.
Beginning in mid-October, we will have up-to-date information about the Part D landscape for 2008. Please feel free to contact the SHINE program at your local Council on Aging or at Elder Services at 1-800-544-5242 or 499-0524 to request a review of your situation.
Margie Ware is Elder Services’ Regional SHINE Program Coordinator.