More Part D Problems
Many seniors had been under the false impression that only individual-out-of-pocket costs paid by plan members counted toward the initial coverage limit of $2,250, which is where the doughnut hole begins. However, this was not correct. The truth is that the insurance companies’ costs also count toward the initial coverage limit of $2,250 – meaning that the doughnut hole is being reached much sooner. Seniors have therefore already begun footing the entire bill for their drug costs, while also paying an insurance premium.

Also, hundreds of thousands of letters were being sent to beneficiaries enrolled in more than one drug plan, a result of beneficiaries switching plans and errors in disenrollment records. The letters inform participants they will be dropped from one plan and retain coverage under the most recent plan in which they were enrolled, leaving many to fret over the confusion this will cause. Non-English speakers are finding it impossible to get their prescriptions through the Part D program, according to the Los Angeles Times. Faced with the difficulties in obtaining prescriptions at pharmacies all over the country, non-English speakers are being told there are no available translators when they call their drug plan providers with questions. What's Gone Wrong with Part D »




HHS Secretary Leavitt's Parents Experience Medicare Confusion
Dixie and Anne Leavitt, the parents of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt, have become the latest seniors across the country to have trouble choosing a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. After initially selecting a plan that put their retiree medical coverage at risk, the Leavitts recently had to switch to a different plan. Secretary Leavitt had assisted his parents last fall in making that initial selection, and Anne, 73, was quoted at the time in The Salt Lake Tribune as saying that the enrollment process had been “smooth” and the program was “a guaranteed money-saver.” While the Leavitts were able to address their misunderstanding without a lapse in coverage, the problems have been far worse for many other retirees who find themselves with fewer resources at their disposal. More on Rx Drugs and Medicare »




The above excerpts are from:

http://www.retiredamericans.org/


lenal

Lenal, when you are ready to march about this, I will join you.

The whole thing is an outrage. This is how our country treats "The Greatest Generation" ?

It's even worse than that. To encourage companies not to dump thier prescription drug coverage, the government subsidizes approximately 28% of the cost or $660.00 per retiree for 2006 to keep the cost to the taxpayers down (supposedly). If the company is in the 35% tax bracket, they will get an additional $231.00 per retired employee.

So in effect, there's a prescription drug plan to benefit seniors who have a deductible that ends up back in the hands of guess who. Oh, I forgot to mention, these payments to the companies are tax free.