[Atlanta, GA — Oct. 20, 2006] –– Sixteen stand-alone plans that fill the coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit will be available to Georgia’s Medicare beneficiaries in 2007, compared to seven in 2006.
 
Plan sponsors nationwide have recognized the importance of making gap coverage available, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which released the information late last week.
 
While the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries are not affected by the gap, a recent survey by the Medicare Rx Education Network found that four in 10 seniors in Part D are not sure if their current plan has a gap or not. The same survey found that while 82 percent were satisfied with the benefit, three out of four seniors did not know when the open-enrollment period for 2007 begins.
 
In response to the survey results, the Medicare Rx Access Network of Georgia is stepping up efforts over the next three months to help beneficiaries determine if their current plan does or does not have a coverage gap and if they spend enough annually on prescription drugs to be subject to a gap at all.
 
The network also is educating seniors about potential options for filling the gap, and letting people know that they can change plans if they want to during the next open-enrollment period.
 
Options for filling the gap include: selecting a plan that offers gap coverage, applying for extra help through Medicare’s low-income subsidy program, and applying for additional assistance from various sources (such as state pharmacy assistance programs, charitable foundations and patient assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies).
 
Open enrollment for 2007 coverage runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, 2006. 
 
To help simplify the enrollment process, the Medicare agency has begun to post information about the 2007 plans on its Web site (www.medicare.gov). Eligible beneficiaries can now review a list of the plans that will be available in Georgia next year, including important information regarding monthly premiums, annual deductibles and extra coverage offered in the gap.
 
In addition, CMS has improved its online Plan Finder tool with several new features, including a means of calculating monthly prescription drug expenditures. This will help people determine if they are likely to hit a coverage gap next year.
 
Information about 2007 plans in Georgia also is available by calling the Medicare Hotline (1-800-MEDICARE) or the GeorgiaCares state health insurance assistance program (1-800-669-8387).
 
Additional plan information will be provided in the Medicare & You 2007 handbook, which will be mailed to all beneficiaries between late October and early November.
 
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2007 Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plans:
http://www.medicare.gov/medicarereform/local-plans-2007.asp
 
Medicare Rx Education Network survey:
http://www.medicarerxeducation.org/survey/survey.htm