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Updated: Thursday September 02, 2010

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            YOUR MEDICARE GUIDE

 

 NEW INFORMATION ADDED DAILY

 

             

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Medicare  PART "D" AND THE COSTS

ALL ABOUT THE  DOUGHNUT HOLE

COMPARE PART D PLANS FOR YOUR STATE

Medicare A - B - C - D

             ---plus other Medicare Tips, News, and Links

Still Time to Review Medicare Advantage Plans

(Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, Combines A, B, MediGap, and perhaps D)
Medicare Advantage plans with the largest enrollments will raise their premiums by 20% on average in 2010 -- some by more than 60%. And generally the benefits are being drastically cut. You MUST read the information your existing plan sends to you, and should compare their 2010 benefits with other providers. There is still an open enrollment period open for MA Plans from Jan 1 thru Mar 31. Click to:

Learn about MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, or Simple Explanation of Parts A, B, C, and D. Or go to the Medicare Health Plan Finder.

Time to Review Medicare Part D Plans

Go to the Medicare (D) Drug Plan Finder

Did you know that  today the US is only 43rd

in life expectancy among the nations!   We wonder why. $

                                      $          $            $ 

 

1 Where Do I Start With Part "D"? 

     Simply explained on one page.

     Understand the maze.

 

2. Senior Tips, Medicare and Part "D" Prescription News and Links  (below)

3. 2010 Medicare Part D Basic Guidelines

 

4. How Part D Works - How to change it

                

5."Help - I'm falling into the dreaded

 doughnut hole" : 15 Things you can do today to survive the  doughnut hole, and save on drugs.

 

6. Medicare Twilight Zone 

    do do do do ) do do do

    A little comic relief for all those who are

    confused by Medicare!

 

7. Part D Costs in  Easy Chart Form

 

8. Medicare Parts A, B, C, D

   Simply explained on one page

 

9. Medicare Part "D

     Simply explained on one page

 

10. Two New Medicare Part "D" Tools

         Select the right plan for you.

 

11  Part D and Medicare Advantage

      Comparison Tool

 

12. Does Part "D" Really Add Up For Me?

 

13. Surviving the Medicare Advantage

      Decision-Making Process

 

14.  2010 Part B Premium Announced

 

15  Effect of a Zero Social Security COLA

       on Part B Premiums in Medicare

 

16. Committing to the wrong Part D Plan for the next year could be a costly and tragic error. Are you sure you will have the best 2009 Part D Plan for your area, at the best price, and one that best meets your prescription needs? Medicare has a very easy tool that will do that for you. As the editor of SeniorArk.com, I work with Part D information every day, and I'm not sure I will have the best 2010 Plan until I use that tool. Have a look.

 

17. Medicare-run, single payer drug plan

       proposed

 

18. A few quick Medicare Links for Part D

 

19. Check to see if you qualify for extra help

       with Part D costs.

 

 

$ 

 

 

 

 

 

TIPS

most recent last

1. Surviving With Medicare Part "D"

2.THE MEDICARE TWILIGHT ZONE      Humorous article on the utter confusion of Medicare "Parts"
3.  Explanation of Part D, doughnut hole, and suggestions for improvement.

 

"Be generous. I'm trying to buy my way out of the doughnut hole."  Maxine

4.  Official Medicare Prescription Drug Information Site 

5.  If you do not have excessive property or large bank accounts, you should be able to get your Part D subsidized by Social Security. I get about $11,000 per year and my Part D has NO premium NO deductible, NO gap, and the meds run between $! & $5 per month (max) each. Check page 57 in the 2006 Medicare Handbook "Medicare and You" it has a chart that should answer your questions. Good luck. You may be able to get help applying (I did) from RSVP, they're in the phone book.      Cheers,  Lee O.

(You will need Acrobat Reader to open this Medicare publication online. It is free. Click the running person below)

  Image of the Adobe Acrobat Reader logo

6, BEWARE of people offering to give you Medicare information for a price. 99.9% of the time this information is available FOR FREE. These people are looking to make a buck off of you by selling you convenience.

 For that matter, any information pertaining to government policies or programs is free. Don't fall for the hype!     Rivahcat - Virginia

7. IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT PLAN D, WRITE OR CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR. COMPLETE LINKS TO DO THAT CAN BE FOUND AT: LINKS/GOVERNMENT

8. Here is an invaluable site for Seniors who are on Part "D", or buying drugs independently. It is produced by independent  Consumer Reports. It is part of their  "Best Buy Drugs"  website.  Specific to those on Medicare is  their  "Medicare RX"  section.

9. Why are seniors paying nearly twice the price for their prescriptions as veterans, even though the government runs both programs? Because Congress specifically prevented Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices for seniors. In a time of record budget deficits, that just doesn’t make sense. Click here to tell Congress to let Medicare get better drug prices for seniors. (Takes you to a Consumers Union/Consumer Reports page)

10. A free booklet is available from the National Pharmaceutical Council explaining prescription benefits, new Medicare beneficiaries, choosing a plan and how to appeal when your drug is not covered. You can order Your Pharmacy Benefit: Make It Work for You. Call 1-888-878-3256 or www.pueblo.gsa.gov

11. Important dates for the balance of 2008 for Part D

Oct. 1: Insurance companies may start marketing their plans.

Oct. Mid: Medicare releases details of the plans, costs and drugs they cover. In late October it mails each beneficiary the "Medicare and You" handbook, a guide to all Medicare benefits.

Nov. 15-Dec. 31: Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in Part D plans, or switch to new plans. Those already enrolled may keep those plans or switch to different ones. People in a plan that is being discontinued may choose a new plan.

January 1 - March 31 Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage, if you decide you prefer this to a stand-alone Part D program.

HELP, Medicare • 1-800-633-4227 (TTY/TDD 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day. www.medicare.gov

12.  The changes to Medicare in 2006 that brought us the drug "benefit" had  another increase built in which I was just made aware of by an article in this Sunday's paper ..
Part B charges will be tied to your income bracket !!!!  .
The article did not state how/when  they would  determine your bracket .. But anyone near a bracket boundary should do some year-end  income planning now if possible.. The article mentioned 2 events that could cause a bracket shift, converting an IRA to Roth and selling property..  Paul P.

13. See Medicare A B C D Made Simple

14. TO FIND A HEALTH PLAN Your best resource is still the Medicare prescription-drug-plan finder --  -- which lets you enter the names of drugs you take and figure your potential out-of-pocket costs for the plans in your area.

15. If you are denied any kind of coverage by Medicare, you have the right to appeal. Here is the Medicare webpage you need: http://www.medicare.gov/basics/appeals.asp

16. What can you do if you are falling into the doughnut hole?

17. This morning SeniorARK came across an October 23, 2006 article on the mixed grades Part D is receiving. In that article we find this statement: "It's a lot of smoke," said Dr. Aaron Snyder, who works for Kaiser Permanente. To him, the government is cleverly concealing the fact that the benefits are relatively modest. To read the full article click: Medicare Plan D gets mixed grades
Rocky Mountain News - Denver,CO,USA

18 Alert: Despite Medicare coverage, seniors are not taking advantage of preventive services and important screenings that can help detect diseases early.

19. Do you think there is profit in the Medicare Part D Extravaganza on the backs of Seniors?  Read this from a late October 2006 Stock value assessment of Part D provider, Humana:

"OVERVIEW: In 2003, the federal government passed legislation allowing seniors to obtain medical coverage through private health insurers under plans ultimately reimbursed by Medicare

More than half of Humana's profits come from insuring seniors through government programs, and with Medicare reforms still in infancy analysts say investors will judge Humana's third quarter based on margins and enrollment. Both are tied to the company's ability to persuade members to switch to a new type of plan, Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Advantage offers seniors cheaper copays under programs that restrict choices to certain doctors and hospitals."   

20. Read recent article (Oct 29) on Part D      THE PRAISES AND PITFALLS OF PART D
21. Disabled and can't get around. Check into Medicare-approved scooters.

                    It may be fully covered.

22. Many seniors know that Medicare covers flu and pneumonia vaccinations but don't realize they have extra benefits that became effective Jan. 1, 2005, Medicare now covers 100 percent of the cost of cholesterol tests every five years and diabetes screening tests up to twice a year. It also will cover 80 percent an annual glaucoma eye screening and a bone mass measurement to check for osteoporosis. Other screenings tests covered by Medicare at 100 or 80 percent include mammography, pap tests, colorectal screening and prostate cancer. The coverage means Medicare benefits can help detect disease earlier, reduce infectious diseases and improve a patient's quality of life.

Many conditions and diseases have no early symptoms. It's much better to try to prevent health problems from developing or growing that treating a disease after it has developed for a while.  These are potentially life saving benefits. We encourage seniors to take advantage of them. Cancer can grow deep within a colon, for example, with no symptoms. Regular testing can reveal colon cancer in earlier more curable stages. Medicare also will cover 80 percent of the medical nutritional therapy for persons with diabetes or kidney disease.

23. If your Medicare Part B coverage begins on or after January 1, 2005, Medicare benefits cover a one-time preventive physical exam within the first six months that you have Part B. The exam will include a thorough review of your health, education and counseling about the preventive services you need, like certain screenings and shots, and referrals for other care. The "Welcome to Medicare" physical exam is a great way to get up-to-date on important screenings and shots and to talk with your doctor about your family history and how to stay healthy. These preventative screenings are an important aspect of senior health and committing to a healthy lifestyle.

24. Premiums are going up on Part D, and there could be changes as to which prescription drugs are covered in your policy.
If a senior decides to change policies or enroll in the program for the first time, Medicare officials urge the action be taken by December 8.
Although the deadline is Dec. 31, applying early will allow enough time for processing for coverage beginning Jan. 1.

Don't assume that everything is exactly the same as in 2006 with your Part D plan. You need to review it for 2007.  And there may be a better plan for your situation. Go to prescription-drug-plan finder for online help from Medicare.

25. No Increase for Medicare Part B Premiums in 2009; more.
26. Bill to Improve Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy

27. November 1, 2006 - In 13 states next year, there will be no drug plans that offer coverage in the so-called "doughnut hole," the drug coverage gap in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, for the top medicines prescribed to seniors, according to a new report issued today. In 2006, there were only four such states, but the number of seniors without access to such doughnut hole coverage will increase from 375,000 to 6.6 million in 2007 - an 18-fold increase.

In the 37 states and the District of Columbia in which plans will continue to offer such doughnut hole coverage, premiums for the lowest-priced Part D plans will increase by 87.4 percent, jumping from a median monthly price of $55.08 in 2006 to $103.20 in 2007 (an increase in annual premiums from $660.96 to $1,238.40).  SeniorJournal.com

28. Medicare Part B Premiums: New Rules For Beneficiaries With Higher Incomes Frequently Asked Questions
29. Your 2009 Part B premium depends. on your income for prior tax year..  read more

Seniors are waiting for your tip here.     Or submit a useful link for a links section.

Click here to read SeniorARK explanation of, and recommendations for Medicare Part "D"

  Search for any word on this SeniorARK site

 

 

   Medicare and Prescription Drug Part D   News

 most recent articles first

older articles in archive

Seniors:  IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE MEDICARE PART D PRESCRIPTION PLAN,  WRITE OR CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR. COMPLETE LINKS TO DO THAT CAN BE FOUND AT:             LINKS/GOVERNMENT.                                              Or you might want to go the route below:

Why are seniors paying nearly twice the price for their prescriptions as veterans, even though the government runs both programs? Because Congress specifically prevented Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices for seniors. In a time of record budget deficits, that just doesn’t make sense.   Tell Congress to let Medicare get better drug prices for seniors.

If any links are dead, they have probably been dropped by the original publisher.

Most recent Medicare and  Part D news listed first.    See older Medicare and Part D News in archive

Date indicates when posted on this page by SeniorArk

About Medicare Part D
WatertownDailyTimes.com  6-22-10
Closing the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" has long been a top priority for AARP members and all older Americans. Starting on June 10, people in Medicare ...
Medicare beneficiaries beware of 'doughnut hole' fraud
Kiowa County Signal  6-22-10
Approximately 27.6 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare Part D as of February 2010 and more than one in four will reach the gap. ...
Medicare Part D Rules: What Baby Boomers Need to Know
By Junior Boomer 6-22-10
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, also known as Medicare Part D, refers to the coverage added for prescription medication for Medicare recipients. This allows those with Medicare to get insurance that will pay for part of their ...
Know the facts on closing the gap
Chicago Daily Herald  6-21-10
Some Medicare Part D beneficiaries will receive a $250 check in the mail. This is the first step in the gradual closing of the so-called doughnut hole - or ...
Senate Approves Stand-Alone 'Doc Fix', But Cuts Still Take Effect
California Healthline  6-21-10
The $6.5 billion "doc fix" measure would provide a 2.2% payment increase to Medicare physicians through November. The cost of the bill would be fully offset ...
The AARP Medicare D Doughnut Hole Calculator: How Does it Work?  6-21-10
Those that want to estimate if they may hit the Medicare Part D drug coverage gap may find it useful to use the AARP's donut hole calculation tool. This can help an individual work out if they may fall into the gap and also gives useful ...
Seniors confront a maze of Medicare changes
Seattle Times  6-20-10
By 2020, the law aims to fill the "doughnut hole" gap in Medicare Part D coverage that each year requires patients to pay all drug costs once their ...
Drug Rebate Is Mailed Out
Wall Street Journal  6-20-10
By ANNA PRIOR Some participants in Medicare Part D prescription-drug plans should be on the lookout for a check in the mail. The US Department of Health and ...
Woman At Odds With Medicare Over Life-Saving Drug
CBS2 Chicago  6-18-10
Reisinger says she was told she would get coverage for Xopenex before she signed up with Coventry Health Care's First Health Medicare Part D Prescription ...
Medicare Payment Cuts To Doctors Loom As Republicans Reject Slimmed-Down ...
Kaiser Health News  6-18-10
Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, reached an agreement on a six-month fix of the Medicare payment rate for doctors that could allow the ...
The Sore Loser Republicans Can't Stop Saying "No"
Huffington Post (blog)  6-18-10
Becoming eligible for Social Security generally means automatically becoming a beneficiary for Medicare Part A, and Medicare sets a stiff penalty if ...
Medicare drug plan rebates invite data theft scammers
Infosecurity Magazine (US)  6-15-10
The checks are in the mail – that is, if you are a Medicare recipient. Rebates to help ease the costs of the so-called Medicare Part D “donut hole” have ...
Health care reform starts to hit home: Some provisions of landmark legislation ...
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle  6-13-10
The most immediate change for seniors under the new bill is the reduction, and eventual elimination, of the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole. ...
If you're on Medicare, get set for some benefits and burdens
Kansas City Star  6-12-10
The Medicare prescription benefit called Part D was born of political and financial compromise. To keep costs down, Congress built in a yawning coverage gap ...
Drug Spending Varies Widely By Region; Patients Are Not Primary Reason
Medscape  6-11-10
The authors studied pharmacy and medical data for 533170 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 to 99 years who were enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D plans. ...
When Will I Get My $250 Medicare Part D Donut Hole Check?
By Peter Anderson  6-9-10
President Obama announced that up to 4 million seniors who fall into the Medicare Part D Prescription Benefit Donut Hole will receive a check for $250 soon
AARP Offers Tips for People Receiving Medicare Prescription Drug ...
By William Landers  6-9-10
With the first checks to be mailed on June 10, people in Medicare Part D who reach the prescription drug coverage gap (or “doughnut hole”) this year will automatically receive a rebate of $250 to help with their drug costs and other ...
Low-income seniors to receive assistance with prescription drug costs
McKnight's Long Term Care News  6-8-10
These new eligibilities coincide with a $250 check for seniors who fall into the Medicare Part D coverage gap that is being mailed out this week. ...
Cost of brand name drugs spike nearly 10 percent — How to save on meds
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)  6-8-10
The price jump was for more than 220 medicines widely used by seniors in Medicare Part D. Those consumers falling into the “doughnut hole” will find some ...
Cost of brand name drugs spike nearly 10 percent — How to save on meds
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)  6-8-10
The price jump was for more than 220 medicines widely used by seniors in Medicare Part D. Those consumers falling into the “doughnut hole” will find some ...
Turning 65? Allsup Outlines Costly Mistakes to Avoid With Medicare Enrollment
Business Wire (press release)  6-3-10
The penalty applies for as long as you have Medicare. Likewise, Medicare Part D imposes a fine if you go for more than 63 days without coverage as good as ...
Drug Makers Push For More Time To Pay Half-Off Discount On Drugs
Kaiser Health News  6-3-10
Drug makers want 60 days instead of 15 to pay a half-off discount for branded drugs in a Medicare Part D coverage gap, Inside Health Policy reports. ...
Covering the Bases: Beware of con artists asking for Medicare info
Annapolis Capital  5-30-10
By AMY RUBINO, For The Capital I received a call from Medicare stating that I was entitled to a $250 rebate for Medicare Part D. The caller wanted my ...
Health Care Reform: 6 Things Retirees Need to Know
FavStocks (blog)  5-29-10
Beneficiaries of Medicare Part D Plans face a gap in their coverage. Known as the Medicare or prescription drug doughnut hole, this is the difference ...
Avoid The Doughnut Hole of Medicare Part D
By recessi  5-24-10
By now, you have probably heard about the very large shortfall in Medicare Part D, called the donut hole. Donut holes are supposed to be small; however this shortfall is not small in any way and will probably cause many people much ...

If any links are dead, they have probably been dropped by the original publisher.

Most recent Part D news listed first.              . See Older Medicare and  Part "D" articles in archive

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