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December 2007 Medicare Part D Newsletter
:: Already Enrolled? Plan Your 2008 Prescription Drug Budget Now
:: I Don't Want to Change Part D Plans — What Do I Do?
:: PDP-Compare Shows Important Changes to 2008 Medicare Part D Plans
:: New Tutorial for PDP-Compare: Our Part D Plan Comparison Tool
:: Avoid Common Mistakes When Completing Part D Enrollment Applications
:: CMS Publishes National List of Poor-Performing Nursing Homes
:: Important Enrollment Dates
:: Closing Notes
Already Enrolled? Plan Your 2008 Prescription Drug Budget Now
If you have already enrolled in a 2008 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you may wish to start preparing your 2008 prescription drug budget. We have updated our 2008 doughnut hole calculator or PDP-Planner to help you with your efforts. You can enter your projected expenses and plan features to see an estimate of your spending through 2008. The PDP-Planner also shows you with color-coding the phases of your Part D coverage (initial deductible, initial coverage, doughnut hole, and catastrophic coverage). Click here for the 2008 PDP-Planner. Not sure about the details of your 2008 Part D plan? You can find 2008 Part D prescription drug plan costs and other information in our PDP-Finder.
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I Don't Want to Change Part D Plans — What Do I Do?
If you wish to stay with your same Medicare Part D prescription drug plan through 2008, you do not need to do anything. If you make no new Part D plan choice, you will be automatically re-enrolled in the same Part D plan for 2008. Please note that the plan features may have changed for 2008. If your existing Part D plan is not offered in 2008, you will be moved to another Part D plan with the same insurance provider. Details can be found in your Annual Notice of Change Letter and/or using PDP-Compare.
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PDP-Compare Shows Important Changes to 2008 Medicare Part D Plans
We enhanced our 2007/2008 Part D Plan Comparison Tool (PDP-Compare) to better provide you with a quick overview of how your current 2007 Part D prescription drug plan changes in 2008. Our updated Part D PDP-Compare tool now includes Part D plan IDs, premium cost, co-payment information, CMS plan quality ratings, past enrollment figures, doughnut hole coverage, and whether the plan qualifies for the state's $0 premium low-income subsidy — all in one place. Click here to see a summary of changes in your Part D plan: www.Medicare-PartD.com/PDP-Compare.php.
Would you like to learn more about our new PDP-Compare and see some example of changes in 2008 Part D plans? Read about the PDP-Compare tutorial below.
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Avoid Common Mistakes When Completing Part D Enrollment Applications
Question:
Last year, my Part D prescription drug coverage was delayed because of a problem with my enrollment application. How can I avoid this problem in 2008?
Answer: Some people find that applying for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage is not so easy. The Part D application is only few pages long, but there are some common mistakes that can keep you from receiving your Part D coverage. To help you with the completion of your application, we have added a few tips to avoid any problems - before they arise. Click here to see more in our enrollment assistant section.
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CMS Publishes National List of Poor-Performing Nursing Homes
A note from our long term care team: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a press release listing the nation's poor-performing nursing homes or special focus facilities. Click here to read the entire press release - along with the list of the top 50 poorest performing nursing homes. According to the CMS press release, nursing homes identified as special focus facilities are given additional attention and typically 50% of these nursing homes "significantly" improve their quality of care" within 24-30 months.
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Important Enrollment Dates
Today: We have about three weeks remaining in our six week Annual Enrollment Period. If you decide on a new Part D plan, we recommend that you enroll rather soon to ensure receipt of your new membership information before January 1, 2008.
Monday, December 31, 2007: Annual Open Enrollment Period ends for Part D and you will not have another opportunity to join a prescription drug plan until 2009 (that is, unless you are granted a special enrollment period) — and if you are without creditable prescription drug coverage, you risk paying a lifetime premium penalty.
Changing to a Medicare Advantage Plan: Medicare beneficiaries have one additional chance to join or switch Medicare Advantage plans from January 1 to March 31 of every year during the Medicare Advantage Plan Open Enrollment Period (OEP). During the OEP you cannot drop or add Part D prescription drug coverage — however, if you have a prescription drug plan, you can join a Medicare Advantage plan with a prescription drug benefit (MA-PD).
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Last updated on: 07/18/2008
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