California Health Insurance News 
Articles / Seniors are asking more specific questions about Medicare Part D
09/29/2005
Now that enrollment time is drawing closer, seniors are starting to ask much more specific questions, and are trying to get information about the prices of drugs that affect their own particular health problems. They want to know if they sign up for Medicare Part D, the new prescription drug plan, will their current medications be covered and how will they find out?
It is estimated that there could possibly be 40 different drug plans to choose from in California alone, and most of them will have different benefits. Each insurance company can establish their own list of drugs the plan covers. Although this list must meet certain requirements set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, they will still differ from company to company. It is therefore essential that each individual is quite clear on which of his medications are covered by which company.
"You must review the list of drugs and choose carefully according to your needs" says David A. Thau, CEO and Founder of Keep It Simple Insurance. "With so many insurance companies offering so many different plans to the public there will be mass confusion on what is the most appropriate plan for an individual's needs."
Generally speaking, the program covers drugs available only by prescription, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, used and sold in the United States, and used for a medically accepted indication. The Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage drugs will include prescription drugs, biological products, insulin, vaccines and certain medical supplies. Certain drugs can't be part of the program, because the law excludes them.
Every therapeutic class of prescription drugs will be covered under Medicare Part D. However, each company can provide different drugs as long as there is one in each therapeutic class. That means not every drug will be covered. It does mean that there will be several insurance companies offering several plans with different drug benefits.
