Director's Message
Medicare Part D November 2006November 2006: Medicare Part D Act 2: Open Enrollment
November 15 marks the first day of open enrollment for the Medicare prescription drug programs across the US. This is the time to review your experience with the plan that you chose last year and to decide if you want to make any changes. By now you should have received the Medicare & You booklet and a packet from your current company with changes to your current plan and its formulary (drug list). If you have a retirement plan, you should soon receive a letter that states whether it is still creditable, that is, as good or better than the standard Medicare D plan.
Medicare states that if you have coverage you like, you need do nothing. But because the plans can change premiums, copays and formularies, it behooves you to take a look. Are you happy with your experience this year? Did you save money? Did the coverage match your utilization? Did you meet the initial deductible? Did you get to the “donut hole” where you had to pay 100%? Was the plan easy to use with your medications and pharmacy? Were customer service representatives helpful? Were all your medications covered? What is the cost of renewing for 2007?
There are 57 plans to choose from in NJ for 2007, ranging in cost from $10.20 to $135.70 per month. Some have no deductible, some cover the coverage gap or “donut hole” with at least generic drugs. Copays may vary for different drugs and costs may vary between pharmacies, even within the same plan. Look at the formularies and cost tiers for your medications.
So what do you do? Here are some helpful options:
It is important to move on this quickly as Open Enrollment ends on December 31, 2006. After that date you can not make changes. It is recommended that you make changes by December 8 to have new cards in place by January 1.
Don’t forget that it may be best for you and your spouse to choose different plans, and to check whether you qualify for “extra help” if you have a low income. From assisting many of you with your initial choice, I know that some chose the least expensive plan because you had few prescription costs, while others went with a familiar provider. I would love to hear from you about your experience this year. I haven’t heard much, which leads me to believe that many of you were pleasantly surprised. Hearing your stories will help me assist others and give feedback to those who advise and make the plans.
Medicare Part B premiums will also change in 2007, as those in higher income brackets will begin to pay higher premiums.
Medicare is also starting a new website: http://mymedicare.gov. Once you get a personal password, you can access your account to see the status of your Part B deductible, order replacement cards, print forms, check your claims history, and receive email reminders and preventive service information.
In related news, the National Council on Aging is urging everyone to press Congress to eliminate the penalty for late enrollment, and the Department of Homeland Security has been confiscating medications ordered in Canada when mailed to the US. Susan W. Hoskins, LCSW |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |