Medicare drug plan deadline nears
Calling all people on Medicare.
If you haven't enrolled in the Medicare Part D drug plan, or you haven't reviewed your drug plan from this year, you only have a few weeks left. The deadline to change your plan or to enroll is Dec. 31. The government is encouraging people to do it even sooner, said Kathie Phillips, advocate with the Senior LinkAge Line in Crow Wing and Cass counties.
Phillips, who assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families and other senior citizens in need, said finding the right drug plan is crucial if people want to save money. Phillips said there are 53 stand-alone drug plans for people to choose from for next year, compared to about 41 plans this year. There also is the Medicare Advantage option, which is a health benefit and drug insurance plan.
Drug costs can vary at pharmacies depending on the drug plan a person on Medicare is enrolled in. People on Medicare have until Dec. 31 if they want to enroll in a new drug plan for 2007. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Phillips said she can help people find the perfect drug plan, a plan that will save the person the most money on their medical prescriptions. And people, who are computer savvy, can do the homework themselves. Information is available online at www.medicare.gov or call (800) MEDICARE (633-4227) to find the perfect plan.
Phillips recently helped a senior citizen and found a plan that could save her more than half on her prescription drugs next year.
Under her current plan, she'd pay $2,119 in 2007.
If she changes to another plan Phillips identified, she will pay a total of $815 next year.
"These are huge savings," said Phillips. "You just need to find the right plan. There are people who are already on the right plan so not everyone will see these type of savings like this senior did.
"The bottom line is that people who enrolled in the drug plan in 2006 are realizing there are cost savings being enrolled in the drug plan."
Phillips met one senior who only takes one or two medicines and is not enrolled in the drug plan because she feels that she doesn't need it.
"I encouraged her to enroll because of the 'what ifs,'" said Phillips. "It's just like car insurance. You don't drive around without car insurance as you never know if you'll get into a car accident. It's just like people's drug needs. You never know when you'll have to take another prescription and how much it would cost."
Phillips said a common mistake people make when choosing a drug plan is they look at the monthly premium payment only. Phillips said people also must look at the cost of the prescription drug.
Phillips said each drug plan is required to have a certain number of drugs on the list and the drug companies negotiate their own prices so the cost of one drug will be different in each plan.
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about Medicare Part D, Phillips said is they think they have to meet income and asset guidelines in order to enroll. Phillips said this is not the case, anyone on Medicare can enroll.
Phillips said people do need to meet income and asset guidelines for the extra help. The extra help assists low-income people with monthly premiums and other drug expenses.
Phillips said statistics from the Minnesota Board of Aging found that 500 people in both Crow Wing and Cass counties are eligible for the extra help, but they are not enrolled. Seniors can apply for extra help at the Social Security office in Brainerd or go to the Web site at www.ssa.gov.
For more information or to review your drug plan, contact Phillips at 824-6086 or (800) 333-2433.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.