Medicare Drug Plan Open Enrollment

November 15th to December 31st is the open enrollment period for Medicare! Medicare Part D covers prescription costs, and can be added or changed during this period.

Please note that premiums may go up or down starting in 2008, so even if you are happy with your present Part D you should double-check whether the cost is going to go up and whether it is still going to cover your medicines. You can find out by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. This article in the Sacramento Bee discusses this.

While the drug benefit affects people differently depending upon their incomes, their health and where they live, the standard benefit looks like this: Participants pay the first $275 in drug costs. Then, the plan pays 75 percent of the tab until total drug costs reach $2,510. That's when beneficiaries hit the so-called doughnut hole, where they pick up all cost until they've paid $4,050 out of pocket. After that point, they only have to pay 5 percent of the tab for their medicine.

Medicare's website is a useful on-line resource.

This link is to the site's menu of the plans for 2008 in El Dorado County that have prescription drug coverage. Clicking on the names in the left column will give you details on each plan's benefits. It also allows you to filter or pick out plans based on other choices including dollar limits on the premiums.

This link is to the site's prescription drug portal. It includes ways to check out plans based on your list of medicines and by preferences including costs.

You can enroll in a plan here.

I hope this is helpful if you are looking into this for yourself, your spouse or your parents!

Also, remember that many medicines can be changed to suit your plan coverage with no sacrifice in quality of your care. Let us know if we can help you with this.