Originally published October 25 2005
Pricing information missing from Medicare's drug plan
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Mark McClellan, head of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, developed a prescription drug plan finder to help seniors, but pricing information is largely unavailable, making the process difficult for seniors.
Earlier this week, Dr. Mark McClellan, head of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, launched a prescription drug plan finder designed to help those on Medicare plug in specific financial information and prescription needs so they can determine which plans are best for them.
The tool is available on www.medicare.gov and is also used by those trained to counsel seniors.
But a crucial piece of data -- pricing information on the drugs -- is still not available, making it difficult for 42 million Medicare participants nationwide to figure out the best coverage at the lowest cost.
Enrollment for the new Medicare prescription drug program starts Nov. 15.
"People are asking questions and we don't know the answers," said Jim, who is one of 9,000 customer service representatives hired to answer questions at 1-800-Medicare.
Deane Beebe of the Medicare Rights Center in Manhattan said its 183 volunteers who are trained to answer questions for the 2.5 million seniors in the state are frustrated.
She said her office's phones "have been ringing off the hook."
The handbook tells low-income beneficiaries eligible for extra help that all drug plans are available with no monthly premium.
Medicare spokesman Peter Ashkenaz said drug pricing information is not available because some of the health plans did not provide the information in a usable format.
Danielle Liss, a regional Medicare spokesman, pointed out that seniors have until Dec. 31 to sign up if they want coverage to begin Jan. 1; otherwise they can sign up by May 15.
Seniors who were interviewed said they had received the new Medicare booklet but found it tough reading, and only one said he called 1-800-Medicare; none reported going online for more information.
Betty Jean Thomas of Freeport, who is trying to parse the plans for her mother, who is on both Medicaid and Medicare, agreed.
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