2012.09.25 10:26
Premium hikes for top Medicare drug plans By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR | Associated Press – 6 hrs ago (AP Photo/Danny Johnston, File) WASHINGTON (AP) — Seniors enrolled in seven of the 10 most popular Medicare prescription drug plans will be hit with double-digit premium hikes next year if they don't shop for a better deal, says a private firm that analyzes the highly competitive market. |
2012.09.25 11:45
2012.09.25 12:04
Even though you are doctors, active or retired, pay attention to these things.
It's your money. A wrong step into the healthcare insurance could derail your retirement.
Make sure that you are covered under Medicare and Medicare supplement (Plan F or similar).
For Plan D, the following applies.
I am currently on "Humana-Walmart Preferred Rx" plan for 2012.
I might jump to "AARP MedicareRx Saver Plus" for 2013. (Note: not the "Preferred Rx Plan" !!)
I do not have serious medical problem and do not need a lot of medications.
And I don't use enough medications to exceed the drug premium I pay.
In that case, naturally, a cheaper plan with lower premium will save money.
If you are heavy on medications, you may choose plans with higher premium.
One can always change the drug plan insurance (PDP) at the end of each year,
regardless of any pre-existing condition or medications. So, please shop around.
(This is the way I understand, but make sure you ask (!),
when or if you want to jump to another plan.)
As you see here, Medicare (=the government) keeps good control on these drug plans
by keeping a lid on the premium and keep providers under competition to each other.
The results are that we save money and can jump to other plan once every year.
This is the power of the Medicare (=government healthcare) in controlling the cost !!
Looking at this, we realize that we need government sponsored healthcare plan (=Medicare)
to keep the healthcare cost under better control.
If we let the medicare go off and open it to private healthcare companies (as the Republicans want), the medical cost will hit the sky in no time.
Then, we all will get poor while the healthcare industries get rich (that's the Republican way).
Please support Obama Healthcare !!
That's only way of controlling the healthcare cost at the expense of the healthcare industries.
(Healthcare industries=Insurance and drug companies, and medical care facilities.)
That's why they and the Republicans don't like a national healthcare plan.
Eventhough Obamacare may not be perfect right now, but it will get better as we go.
There never will be a perfect one at the starting gate.
That's why looking and waiting for a perfect one means having nothing forever.
That's exactly what the Republicans want.
Because of the premium increases, half of the top 10 PDPs will lose eligibility in select regions to retain or receive low-income subsidy (LIS) beneficiaries. The First Health Part D Premier plan will lose LIS eligibility in 10 regions, but Coventry's new basic plan, First Health Essentials, will have LIS eligibility in seven regions. Humana Walmart-Preferred Rx plans will remain LIS eligible in every region. United’s new Saver Plus plan has eligibility in all regions it's offered (30).
Other key findings from the Avalere analysis include:
Lost-Cost Premium Plans, 2013*
Saver Plus
Choice
Value Plus
Source: Avalere Health analysis using DataFrame®, a proprietary database of Medicare Part D plan features and 2013 PDP data released by CMS on September 19, 2012.
Monthly Premiums for Top 10 PDPs in 2013
Basic (PDP)
Enhanced (PDP)
(PDP)
Rx Plan One (PDP)
Value Plus (PDP)
Medicare Value (PDP)
Source: Avalere Health analysis using DataFrame®, a proprietary database of Medicare Part D plan features and 2013 PDP data released by CMS on September 19, 2012.