San Mateo, CA (openPR) 19 December 2006

The first period, 31 December each year for the new Medicare Prescription Drug program moves closer and closer. Unfortunately, the complexity of the program has many seniors still confused.

“The best solution is for the baby-boomers Web-savvy to help their parents compared with the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder to systematically plan the 50 ‘elections, said senior advisor Esther Koch is also a Medicare Aging Network Partner with the Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.


BOOMERS Need more information

Boomers

must first know exactly what type of health insurance for their parents, and if it also cover prescription drugs. be for seniors with an employer or health plan of the Union of Pensioners or a Medicare Advantage Plan health coverage for prescription drugs may be included. In these cases, there is probably nothing to get the message from senior citizens to do the drug coverage is “eligible” for reporting.

It is important to understand that there are two types of Medicare drug plans: Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (commonly referred to as “autonomous”) plans and Medicare Advantage plans referred. “Older people who are really to write every year plans those that” stand alone “prescription drug plans,” said Koch.

“The goal is a prescription drug plan that covers all the form of a drug outweigh the needs of select,” said Koch. Since it is likely that a drug formulary for the elderly and that the plan, the level structure and the prices are changed every year, which can not be the same plan each year.


PRESCRIPTION PLAN SEARCH

Medicare

Koch said: “The primary web-based tool, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder on www.medicare.gov is.” After entering the zip code of their parents and drug name, dosage and delivery of 30 days, the baby boomers a priority list of plan options will get from their parents. “You can even save their work and back.

plan options from least expensive to most expensive plan based on the total estimated annual costs including premiums, deductibles, copays and coinsurance will be sorted. Total costs vary widely according to plan. Koch emphasizes, “Think about what you will get a list of the total cost of all your Christmas gifts, if the same were purchased from some 50 different dealers. They should be more interested in plans for the cheapest.”

also Koch continued, “is the estimated total annual cost is very important, not only the amount of monthly premium or donut hole coverage is included.”


The five least expensive plan is

are initially displayed. “You can all plans do not show side by side comparisons of up to 3 parallel planes, and explore more detailed information. Options Once you have analyzed and decided on a plan, it is best to go Plan Web site to register,” said Koch.


SENIORS

low-income and

Special rules apply to seniors with low incomes and resources. These rules are very detailed for the best sources are the following:

state health insurance assistance program, your parents http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/static/allStateContacts.asp


Social Security www.socialsecurity.gov and 1-800-772-1213, and
Medicare 1-800-MEDICARE and www.medicare.gov.
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Koch concludes, “It is an opportunity for the Baby Boomers to be there for their parents. They need you!”

For more information about Medicare Rx and how the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder visit www.encoremgmt.com Management reuse Medicare Rx tab.

Esther
Esther Koch is a gerontologist

and advise seniors. His firm, Encore Management, provides personal and business counseling and seminars to Boomers with the range of issues related to the care of elderly parents and her own aging support. Her media interviews and articles appeared on television, radio and newspapers.


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Medicare Prescription Drug Plans