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April 18, 2006
Medicare Plan D or Costco? That Is the Question
Valerie Reitman of the Los Angeles Times has an article in today's paper entitled, "Medicare Drug Plans Often Not the Bargain Some Expect." Here's a sample,
A comparison by the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Government Reform found that in January, 10 leading Medicare drug plans were charging prices for 10 top brand-name drugs that averaged 2% more than at Costco in Los Feliz, 4% more than at Drugstore.com, 61% more than in Canada (which caps prescription prices) and 78% more than the other federal programs.
OK, you say this is from a Democratic perspective. Well here is something else,
Ralph Saroyan of Stockton, a former president of the California Pharmacists Assn., thought he had selected a Cadillac plan for his mother, who needed some expensive name-brand drugs. But the plan's affiliated pharmacy claimed its reimbursement under the plan wasn't sufficient to cover name brands, so he had to accept generic versions.Then Saroyan discovered he would have to shell out co-pays of $18 for each monthly maximum of 30 pills. The cost for 100 pills outside the plan was $25.
This is anecdotal to be sure but indicative of the problems with the plan. It appears that those of us who take the most expensive drugs will be helped by the Medicaid D, but those on less costly drugs, like me, or no drugs at all, like Shirley, may need to shop around and it won't be easy! What a plan!
Posted by DuaneSmith at April 18, 2006 12:54 PM | Read more on Current Events |
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