Important Information About Medicare Part D
March 2, 2006
from Assemblyworman Loni Hancock
Friends:
I would like to take this opportunity
to pass on some important information
in regards to Medicare Part D: As many
of you know, Medicare began offering
prescription drug coverage on January
1, 2006. Individuals that have Medicare
have until May 15 to decide whether to
enroll in a drug plan. If you do not
currently have prescription drug coverage
that is as good as Medicare's, you will
pay a financial penalty for delaying
enrollment. Even if you currently do
not need prescription drug coverage,
you will still be penalized if you enroll
after May 15.
Additionally, if you have prescription drug coverage through your employer or spouse's employer that is as good, or better, than Medicare's, you may risk losing all your health benefits if you opt to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan. Determining whether or not you should sign up for Part D and/or choosing a Part D plan that best meets your needs can be overwhelming. In addition to 48 separate plans, a person may choose to receive drug coverage from a Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).
Fortunately, assistance with comparing drug plans and answering your questions is available. Please call 1-800-Medicare or visit www.medicare.gov. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Free counseling is also available by calling the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 1-800-434-0222. The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is offering telephone counseling in Spanish at 1-866-783-2645.
Individuals with Medicare and Medi-Cal ("dual eligibles") had their prescription drug coverage automatically switched to the Medicare program on January 1, 2006. This change has resulted in many people being unable to obtain their medications because they are either mistakenly being charged the full price for medications, are being told there is no record of their membership in a drug plan or are being charged new legal co-payments that they cannot afford. In addition, dual eligibles were randomly assigned to a Medicare drug plan and many of these plans may not cover their current medications.
However, it is possible to change plans to one that better suits their needs. If you are having problems obtaining your medication or need any other assistance with regards to your prescription drug plan, please call the regional Medicare program at 1-888-795-4690 or HICAP at 1-800-434-0222. I hope this information is helpful to you and your loved ones as you navigate through this often complicated and confusing process.