Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.pptVIP

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Tim Cutler, Pharm.D. Assistant Clinical Professor of Pharmacy, UCSF Marilyn Stebbins, Pharm.D. Clinical Professor of Pharmacy, UCSF Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Presentation 11/12/05 Goals for Today: Part I Describe the basic Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Understand your current prescription drug coverage Understand your new options for prescription drug coverage Know important dates to remember Goals for Today: Part II Determine if you are eligible for extra help to pay for the costs of your drugs Know where to go to compare plans Know your resources Medicare- What is it? Medicare is available to: 65 and older Permanently disabled Medicare has 4 parts A: Hospital coverage B: Outpatient coverage (doctor visits) C: Medicare Advantage (A and B coverage and often D) D: Prescription Drug Coverage What is Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage Plans are part of Medicare Medicare-covered health care provided by that plan Plans can include prescription drug coverage Most plans have extra benefits and lower copayments than traditional Medicare You may have to use the plans doctors and hospitals There may be an additional premium for these plans Includes Managed Care Plans (i.e. Medicare HMO’s) What is Medicare Part D New Prescription Drug Benefit from Medicare Starts January 1, 2006 Offers Brand and Generic coverage Voluntary, must choose to enroll Stand alone benefit that can be combined with Part A and B and/or Medicare Supplements What is Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage? Excluded Drugs Drugs for Anorexia, weight loss, or weight gain Fertility Cosmetic purposes or hair growth Symptomatic relief of cough and colds Prescription vitamins and mineral products Except prenatal vitamins and fluoride preparations Non-prescription drugs Barbiturates Benzodiazepines What is the Cost of Part D? For minimum standard coverage in 2006, enrollees would pay