More Costly Prescription Drugs in 2009 for Medicare Part D Recipients

Each year from November 15th through December 31st, Medicare Part D beneficiaries are able to make enrollment changes in their health and prescription drug coverage, which is known as open enrollment. This year, many of these beneficiaries have been notified by their insurers that either their co-pays or deductibles will be going up, and in some cases, subscribers will see an increase in both costs. Worse, some plans that were previously offered in the past will no longer be available in 2009, causing subscribers to select new policies all together. Many insurance companies have been focusing their advertising on these Medicare Part D recipients, knowing that they may be shopping around for a new policy during this time. It is possible for these recipients to research available policies and calculate possible costs by visiting www.medicare.gov.

The Part D prescription drug plan was only added to Medicare in 2006 to provide coverage to social security recipients that could not otherwise afford prescription drug benefits. However, with rising costs, some people that require costly prescription drugs on a regular basis may be motivated to research other policies, since their co-pays and deductibles are likely to go up in 2009. People subscribing to Medicare Part D’s largest plan, AARP’s MedicareRx Preferred plan, are likely to see their premiums go up to $34.92 per month, an increase of almost 20 percent. Subscribers to Medicare Part D’s third largest plan, Humana, may see an increase in their premiums of more than 50 percent, with co-pays for generic prescriptions going up to $7 and co-pays for preferred drugs going up to $40, increases of 75 and 60 percent, respectively.

The U.S. Government has no influence over the premiums set by insurance companies, although these insurers are required to be approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) before making plans available. People enrolled in Medicare’s prescription drug plan deserve quality benefits and should not have to worry that they cannot afford to purchase the prescription drugs they need. When insurers raise costs and begin to cut benefits, it is more likely that beneficiaries will have to make compromises to be able to afford coverage. If you or a loved one has received unacceptable medical care and has questions regarding a possible medical malpractice case, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos. Our firm serves clients with Nassau and Suffolk County medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice and Queens medical malpractice cases. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net