FWD:Medicare Drug Plans offer Premiums of $20 per month or less

RSD In the News : FWD:Medicare Drug Plans offer Premiums of $20 per month or less
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From: byrd45 (Original Message) Sent: 8/31/2005 10:02 AM
HHS RELEASE--MEDICARE DRUG PLANS OFFER PREMIUMS OF $20 PER MONTH OR LESS

Date: August 29, 2005
For Release: Immediately
Contact: CMS Media Affairs
(202) 690-6145


Headline: MEDICARE DRUG PLANS OFFER PREMIUMS OF $20 PER MONTH OR LESS LOWER DEDUCTIBLES, ENHANCED COVERAGE ALSO AVAILABLE

Medicare beneficiaries all over the country will be able to choose prescription drug coverage that will cost less than originally expected, including plans with premiums of $20 per month or less. Options will also include plans offering zero deductibles or deductibles lower than $250 annually, and plans that provide some coverage in addition to the "standard"
Medicare drug benefit.

"Choice and competition among prescription drug plans is working to reduce premiums across the country making the drug benefit even more affordable for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said.

"For just $20 or $30 per month, seniors will be able to get a Medicare-approved prescription drug plan that will provide real help and protect their life savings from ever being eroded by high prescription drug costs."

Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimated that the national average monthly premium for coverage equivalent to the Medicare standard coverage would be $32.20. The reviews of the drug plans by CMS, which are nearing completion, show that Medicare beneficiaries will be able to choose lower cost options and options with coverage in addition to Medicare's standard plan, including:

* At least one prescription drug plan with premiums below $20 per month, and in some areas significantly below $20, in every region of the country except Alaska. All regions have multiple plan options with premiums significantly below $30.

* In every region, prescription drug plans
that will have zero deductibles or deductibles lower than Medicare's standard $250 annual deductible.

* Some prescription drug plans will offer
coverage that exceeds Medicare's standard plan. This includes help for beneficiaries to pay for costs beyond $2,250 and before their out-of-pocket costs hit $3,600 a year - the gap in Medicare's standard coverage. For example, some plans will cover generic drugs in the coverage gap.

* In every region, beneficiaries with limited
incomes (including those eligible for Medicaid and Medicare) will be able to choose from plans with zero premiums offered by at least five organizations.
All of these plans will meet all of Medicare's standards for access to medications.


To see the rest of this report, please visit the following webpage;

http://www.rsdhope.org/Showpage.asp?PAGE_ID=33&PGCT_ID=3208