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A glimpse into the playbook courtesy of Medicare Part D...
http://www.prescriptionforchange.org...ans_now_1.html
California
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Florida
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Illinois
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New York
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Texas
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http://www.prescriptionforchange.org...ans_now_1.html
A new analysis from Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, shows that many Medicare Part D prescription drug plans – which are administered solely by private insurance companies –significantly increase the prices they charge customers each year. Looking at five large states, for a package of five commonly used drugs, the best-priced drug plan in January 2006 is among the worst deals for seniors today. In addition, over the last three and a half years, about a third of the plans dropped out or changed ownership, contributing to consumer confusion.
“In all five states, we found the lowest cost 2006 plan was now among the bottom one-fourth worst-priced in the state for the 5 drugs we studied,” said Bill Vaughan, CU Health Policy Analyst. “For Medicare beneficiaries who haven’t switched out of that plan or were unable to move to generic drugs, it is a financial disaster. The data shows that it is essential that Medicare beneficiaries review their plan at each fall’s open enrollment period. Our study and recent work for Kaiser Family Foundation shows that most people can clearly save large amounts of money by shopping more carefully.”
“In all five states, we found the lowest cost 2006 plan was now among the bottom one-fourth worst-priced in the state for the 5 drugs we studied,” said Bill Vaughan, CU Health Policy Analyst. “For Medicare beneficiaries who haven’t switched out of that plan or were unable to move to generic drugs, it is a financial disaster. The data shows that it is essential that Medicare beneficiaries review their plan at each fall’s open enrollment period. Our study and recent work for Kaiser Family Foundation shows that most people can clearly save large amounts of money by shopping more carefully.”
medicare-chart2-1.jpg
Florida
medicare-chart3-1.jpg
Illinois
medicare-chart4.jpg
New York
medicare-chart5.jpg
Texas
medicare-chart6.jpg
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