By THE WASHINGTON POST - Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Medicare beneficiaries signing up for prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D) now through Dec. 31 have a new Web tool to help them compare plans and costs.
Called Plan Finder, the Medicare site lists premiums, co-pays and deductibles by state.
Under Medicare regulations, insurers can't change tier prices before 2009 but can move drugs from tier to tier.
But according to the Medicare Rights Center in New York, if you're on the drug before its tier changes, you can continue paying the cheaper price.
Hassles? Call Medicare (800-633-4227).
SOURCES OF HELP
Plan Finder: From Medicare's home page, www.medicare.gov, click on "Medicare Prescription Drug Plans -- 2008 Plan Data."
A comprehensive list of resources for Medicare Part D comes from the staff of Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.: www.defazio.house.gov.
Medicare: For tips and information, go to www.medicare.gov/medicarereform/drugbenefit.asp.
Medicare Access for Patients-Rx, a coalition of groups providing guidance to people with chronic diseases and disabilities: www.maprx.info.
AARP Medicare Interactive Counselor: www.aarp.org/health/medicare.
Families USA: www.familiesusa.org/issues/medicare/rx-drug-center/for-consumers.
A Kaiser Family Foundation tracker site lets you compare drug plans: www.kff.org/medicare/healthplantracker/index.jsp.
Read more
Medicare Rights Center: www.medicarerights.org. See "A guide through the Medicare maze."
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