More
Than 39M enrolled in Medicare Prescription Drug
Plans; Beneficiaries on qverage wave $1,200 Per
Year, CMS says
Jan 31, 2007--More than 39 million Medicare
beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare prescription
drug plans,
CMS officials
announced Tuesday, the
Detroit Free Press
reports.
According to CMS, 1.6 million beneficiaries have
signed up for a Medicare plan since June 2006 (Anstett,
Detroit Free Press, 1/31).
CMS Director Leslie Norwalk said since June 2006,
enrollment for dual eligible beneficiaries, who
qualify for Medicare and Medicaid but receive drug
coverage under the Medicare benefit, increased from
6.02 million to 6.27 million; enrollment in Medicare
Advantage plans with drug coverage increased from
6.04 million to 6.65 million; and enrollment in
stand-alone plans increased from 10.37 million to
10.98 million beneficiaries (Carey,
CQ HealthBeat
, 1/30).
CMS officials said that retirees receiving
prescription drug coverage through former employers
and the military declined by 1% (Wolfe,
Minneapolis
Star-Tribune, 1/30).
According to CMS, the average monthly price of
premiums under the drug plans declined by $1 to $22
per month, compared to last year -- 42% lower than
original estimates (USA Today, 1/31).
Beneficiaries on average are saving $1,200 annually,
CMS said (Detroit Free Press, 1/31).
According to a CMS tracking survey, about 75% of
Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a drug plan
reported satisfaction with the benefit, and 6% of
beneficiaries switched plans, primarily for greater
coverage during the so-called "doughnut hole"
coverage gap.
Norwalk said, "Our tracking surveys conducted this
month indicate that 85% of seniors were aware of the
open-enrollment period and over 50% reviewed their
current coverage. Among the 600 seniors surveyed,
34% reported comparing plans, and over half of these
seniors evaluated premium, deductible or [copayments],
and coverage -- that is, their comparisons appeared
to be thorough" (CMS
release,
1/30).
According to Norwalk, the fact that those
beneficiaries were aware of the open enrollment
period or switched plans demonstrates that they are
"smart shoppers and informed consumers." Norwalk
also said that 350,000 of the 900,000 people who
enrolled in a Medicare drug plan last fall did so
through the Medicare Web site,
www.medicare.gov
(Detroit Free Press, 1/31).
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The Department for Aging and Independent Living also will
collaborate with other cabinet and external agencies
serving persons with mental health and other types
of disabilities.
Since assuming office in 2003, Governor Fletcher’s
administration has supported and played a key role
in addressing immediate and long-term issues
impacting the quality of life and care for Kentucky
seniors and people with disabilities:
Approved a budget with an additional $7.5 million
over the 2007-08 biennium to expand and improve the
Personal Care Attendant Program, adult day services,
in-home services and home-delivered meals; and
Another $3.25 million over the biennium to the
Kentucky Caregiver Grandparents Program to help
support and provide needed services to grandparents
raising their grandchildren.
Launched the three-year Kentucky Elder Readiness
Initiative to assess community preparedness to cope
with the enormous changes predicted as the baby boom
generation ages. KERI findings will be used to help
communities minimize the challenges and maximize the
opportunities of a rapidly growing elder population.
Funded the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center
pilot project currently under way in Northern
Kentucky to establish a statewide one-stop
information and assistance program for individuals
and families seeking long-term care services and
options.
Appointed eight new members to the state Institute
on Aging and established the new Subcommittee on the
White House Conference on Aging to further help
guide aging policy and service delivery for elder
Kentuckians.