New
Medicare Law creates
Discount Drug Card confusion
[New York, NY, Feb.
10, 2004)– The Medicare Rights Center (MRC), in an attempt to address
concerns about the new Medicare discount drug card program, has compiled
a series of questions and answers entitled, 76
Things You Should Know About the New Medicare Drug Discount Cards,
available on its web site at www.medicarerights.org/rx76questionsframeset.html
“People are
confused, frustrated and want clear answers—not a sales pitch, not a
campaign commercial,” said Robert M. Hayes, president of MRC.
While people will
know as soon as April which companies will offer the Medicare discount
drug cards in their area, it remains to be seen whether the discount
cards will actually benefit them, he said.
“For the millions
of Americans with incomes under $12,569 ($16,862 for couples), the card
will likely provide needed relief. For these people, the discount card
will be free and cover $600 in drug costs both this year and next,”
said Mr. Hayes. “But, for most older adults and people with
disabilities, the new discount cards offer no more savings than the
cards they already have, and in many cases, they actually offer less.”
The cards are
expected to save people 10 to 15 percent on some prescription drugs and
cost as much as $30 per year. Different cards will cover different
drugs and offer different discounts on the same drug.
Additionally, companies offering the discount cards can regularly change
which drugs they discount and the discounts they offer. Some cards
will only work within a state and others will cover larger regions so
people who travel may run into problems.
“It will be very
hard to choose which card, if any, to buy. If your income is low,
you are likely better off taking advantage of the low-income discount
drug card’s $600 credit toward medications and then switching to a
pharmaceutical company discount card,” said Mr. Hayes. “And if
your income is above $12,569 ($16,862), you may be better off with the
discount card you are currently using, getting your drugs from the
Veterans Administration if you qualify, or buying them from Canada.”
MRC lists currently
available federal, state, pharmaceutical company and other discount drug
programs on its website at www.medicarerights.org/rxframeset.html.
People who do not
have access to the internet can receive a hard copy by sending $5 to
Discount Drug Card Q&A/ Medicare Rights Center / 1460 Broadway / New
York, NY 10036.