2008 Medicare Drug Plans : Deadline 31st Dec

If you are a Medicare beneficiary, you have exactly 4 more weeks -- until Dec. 31 -- to select a new "Part D" prescription drug plan for 2008. Many of you may find rising costs and coverage changes for specific drugs that you use.

About 24 million people are already enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance program for those 65 and older and the disabled. The prescription-drug plans are administered by private companies, with United Healthcare and Humana two of the largest providers. There are about 1,800 individual drug plans for next year, 17 of which are national in scope.

It is wise not to blindly default to your current plans without checking alternative offerings. Also, even though low premium is a desirable factor, do not make that your priority -- It may turn out to be the costliest plan if you do not carefully consider your requirements. So, please compare plans based on your pharmaceutical needs and total costs.

First, prepare a list of the drugs you currently take and their dosages and then find out (i) if the plan covers your drugs and offers you a cheaper alternative than what you currently pay, (ii) if the pharmacies you regularly use are in the plan's network, (iii) if the plan puts any kind of restrictions on the purchase of your drug.

Starting this year, Medicare is offering an online feature drawn from multiple data sources for the quality of services offered, that compares local drug plans for pricing, ease of prescription fulfillment and customer service. It appears on the plan finder tool on its Web site, http://www.medicare.gov/ . You can put your ZIP codes and scrutinize a plan's performance before deciding to go for it.

Medicare also offers help via the toll-free phone 1-800-Medicare. The Medicare Rights Center also staffs a toll-free number with counselors ready to help at 1-800-333-4114.

Alli: First OTC Diet Pill

The FDA issued its first ever approval for an over-the-counter (OTC) diet pill – Alli, the marketing name for the generic drug orlistat. It is a reduced strength version of the prescription drug Xenical.

Alli is expected to be available in stores nationwide by summer and the price, not yet final, is projected to be less than two dollars per day. It is only approved for those age 18 and older. The recommended dose of alli is one 60 mg capsule three times a day with meals containing fat. The FDA approval says, "the most common side effect of the product is a change in bowel habits, which may include loose stools. Eating a low fat diet will reduce the likelihood of this side effect."

Senior citizens and others with diabetes, thyroid disease or taking blood thinning medicine should consult with their physician before using it.

Taken at meal-time, alli works by blocking about 25% of the fat in the food. It must be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet containing about 15 grams of fat per meal. The GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare says it selected "alli" as the brand name because it conveys the concept of partnership with consumers in their weight-loss efforts. To help consumers get off to a successful start, the alli package will include Welcome and Companion Guides, a Guide to Healthy Eating, a Daily Journal, a Calorie and Fat Counter, Quick Fact Cards, and free access to an individualized online action plan at myalli.com to follow an "appealing, reduced-calorie, low-fat diet," says the company.

Website Offers Savings in Prescription Drug

Many Americans are finding out the hard way that even with healthcare insurance, they are not immune to the rising cost of prescription medications. As a result, nearly one out of five insured patients decides not to fill a prescription when met with a co-pay cost that they couldn't afford.

There are some programs available to assist the uninsured and/or with lower levels of income but consumers at all economic levels are struggling with ever escalating drug costs. Even if a patient has healthcare insurance, co-pays on prescribed medication can still represent a significant expense for the consumer, especially for patients who are required to take multiple medications or take medication over a lengthy period of time. But a new Web site may help you to get your prescription medications at the lowest possible price.

A group of physicians and healthcare veterans have launched OPTIMIZERx.com offering an innovative way for patients to access and participate in available co-pay savings, offers and other programs designed to help them better afford the drugs they need. Consumers may simply go to the site and select or type in the name of each branded prescription product they're taking. With that input OPTIMIZERx determines if there is an available savings plan for that product, or if not, any alternative products within that category that may offer savings. For example, if a patient is taking Protonix for digestive/stomach problems like ulcers and heartburn, he/she can select this drug from the list of medications on the Web site, click "get offers" and find a $30 rebate on this medication.

The amount of savings depends on the type of medication and available product offers. There are several ways to redeem offers, but most savings are received either at the point of sale or by way of rebate. Additionally, OPTIMIZERx also offers savings on over-the-counter medications and other healthcare products and services.

Disclaimer: LiveInUSA does not have any connection whatsoever with the website(s) mentioned above. The information is provided only because we think this could be helpful to our readers.

Medicare Drug Plan Enrollment

It's decision time again for those aged 65 and older — and any friends or family members who help them with financial decisions. Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, seniors can enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan — a benefit program launched in 2006 to help older adults and disabled people lower their prescription drug costs. Benefits will begin Jan. 1. Seniors who signed up for a plan during the initial enrollment period that began in November 2005 can also change plans beginning Wednesday.

People who are satisfied with their plan don't have to do anything to keep it; renewal for 2007 is automatic. But most stand-alone plans raised monthly premiums by an average of $4.50, changed other costs and generally expanded the list of drugs they will cover in 2007. So, the plan you signed up for in 2006 may not be the best plan for you in 2007, so you should compare your current plan with new ones available this year.

You don't have to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan if you have a drug benefit through a retirement plan, employer, veterans plan or other plan that is at least as good as standard Medicare coverage. That's called "creditable" coverage. If that plan or coverage level ends after Dec. 31, you may enroll in a Medicare plan without a financial penalty. Seniors who turn 65 after Dec. 31 have the normal Medicare open enrollment period with no penalty.

Because of the confusion, jammed medicare phone lines and computer glitches experienced in last year's enrollment, Medicare officials are encouraging seniors to enroll or make plan changes by Dec. 8, even though enrollment ends Dec. 31. There are a few other exceptions to enrollment deadlines and other restrictions. Also, while the benefit is offered nationwide, the number and kinds of plans vary by state. For more information, MEDICARE'S Web site, www.medicare.gov , and its 24-hour toll-free number, (800) MED-ICARE (633-4227).

Recall of PainKiller

Perrigo Co., one of the largest domestic makers of store-brand over-the-counter drug and nutrition products, said it had found trace amounts of metal in a small number of 500 milligram caplets of store-brand acetaminophen, a pain-killer. The company advised customers to call 877 546-0454 with questions or comments.

Perrigo's customers include Wal-Mart, CVS, Longs Drug Stores, Kroger, Safeway, Dollar General and Save-a-Lot. The recall affects 11 million bottles containing pill.

Any adverse reactions from using the product should be reported to the FDA by calling 800 FDA-1088 or faxing 800 FDA-0178 or on the MedWatch Web site at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch

The FDA posted a list of recalled batches on its Web site at this address http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigobatchlist.html

Prescription Drug: Walmart's $4 Plan

Today Walmart announced an attractive '$4 per prescription for a 30-day supply' scheme for people with insurance and also those without coverage. The orders have to be made online and then picked up in-store. Walmart's idea for $4 prescriptions came from an earlier in-house program to provide $3 co-pays for Wal-Mart workers.

For the time being, the retailer is starting the program tomorrow in its Tampa, FL area stores, but will expand to more states in 2007. The announcement even rattled the Wall street and roiled the stock prices of generic drug wholesalers and pharmacy chains.

If Walmart can lure people to their stores with such a good deal on generics, the customers may as well buy other things from the retailer while coming to collect the drug. It would thus be good for the retailer giant as well as average consumers.