No good deed goes unpunished.
In 2007, private health insurers that provide coverage for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will offer more plans, giving seniors more choices. But such a move will likely confuse beneficiaries already confused by current plan choices.
Citing the New York Times, the Kaiser Network reports that health insurers began marketing 2007 drug plans last Sunday. The six-week enrollment period begins on November 15.
Premiums more or less will remain the same, and beneficiaries satisfied with current plans don’t have to switch. An average of 4,390 medications will be covered under 2007 Medicare Part D, up 13 percent from 2006.
Mark McClellan, the departing chief of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the Wall Street Journal, “As a result of robust competition and smart choices by seniors, plans are adding drugs, removing options that were not popular and providing more options with enhanced coverage.â€
In other Medicare Part D news, the Senate Republican Policy Committee issued a report titled, “Dispelling the Myths of the ‘Doughnut Hole.'” The report explains the split deductible design of the program, challenging the notion that it creates a gap in coverage. The PDF version doesn’t seem to be working, but you may download the report in regular web page format.
