Medicare Drug Plan Raises Concerns Senators gave the top Medicare official an earful Thursday about the difficulty constitutents are having getting their medicines under Medicare's new prescription drug benefit. Unintended Consequences Readers know the two blockbuster reasons pharma chained itself to GOP reps during the design of Medicare Part D: the bill's language prohibits the government from negotiating for price, and a drug benefit kills efforts to legalize drug reimportation from Canada. Diagnosis Time on the Hill Is the Medicare drug benefit suffering from start-up pains, or is there something more serious going on? Curbed access / A drug advisory may hurt Medicare recipients The new Medicare drug benefit has been a prescription for confusion for millions of older people who must choose coverage from a complex variety of plans -- each with different benefits, premiums, deductibles and pros and cons. Medicare Part D: Watch Those Numbers Commentary: What happens to the drug benefit depends on how many people enroll. So far, that's not many. Medicare Drug Plan Gets Off to Rocky Start Nobody expected the rollout of the Medicare prescription drug coverage to proceed without a glitch. What Went Wrong And Why: An Analysis of Drug Benefit’s First Few Weeks Almost a month into the new Medicare drug benefit, problems still abound. Pharmacists can’t determine if some beneficiaries are covered. Democrats accuse GOP of caving in to insurers Did deals save them billions at expense of Medicare, Medicaid recipients? Study: Medicare should negotiate Rx prices Medicare would pay less for prescription drugs if it negotiated directly with the drug industry, says a new report. Medicare fallout: From win-win to watch out Some Republicans fear the problem-plagued Part D drug benefit, once deemed a political plus, may haunt the party. Study: More Ailments Mean More Savings for Medicare Drug Beneficiaries Medicare beneficiaries with one chronic medical condition can save about $400 a year on average with the new Medicare drug benefit, while beneficiaries with four or more chronic medical conditions can save $1,774... Medicare for All It's no secret that the healthcare system is sick. To maximize profits and shareholder confidence, insurance companies, healthcare providers and drug companies have manipulated the system beyond comprehension. Seniors denied Rx drug benefits Medicare's new prescription-drug program is causing thousands of low-income seniors and disabled Americans to lose their drug benefits, prompting at least 14 states to pay for their prescriptions. Delay Medicare deadline; problems make the case Seniors have worried for months about changes in the Medicare prescription drug program that was launched Jan. 1. Medicare drug benefit: More harm than good Our new year kicked off the start of the new Medicare drug benefit plan, what may be the biggest boondoggle in American history. Physicians turning away Medicare patients Medicare patients seeking their first appointment with family practitioner James Hay in Encinitas are being told to find another doctor. New Medicare drug plan for seniors has many scratching their heads One week after the launch of the new prescription drug plan for seniors called Medicare Part D, local reaction is mixed, with many North County pharmacies reporting a high level of confusion among seniors. States Intervene After Drug Plan Hits Snags Low-income Medicare beneficiaries around the country were often overcharged, and some were turned away from pharmacies without getting their medications... In this pitch to seniors, Medicare's the brand Drug benefit focus of marketing plan Seniors urge changes in new drug program Mass. seniors decry new drug program Medicare plan is costly, confusing, activists say New Medicare drug program shows big problems in Vermont The rollout of the federal government's new prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients has been very bumpy in Vermont... Dollars to doughnuts, Bush's drug benefit is no bargain THE NEW YEAR brings with it congressional midterm elections. Here is an issue that should be a real political gift to the opposition party -- the colossal Medicare drug-benefit mess. Dismay greets Medicare benefit As drug plans kick in, patients here are still confused Reality Sets In Medicare Consumer Advocacy Update A Private Obsession The complexity of the Medicare program is far greater than necessary. This document highlights some of the main reasons why confusion is so widespread on this program. Medicare Drug Plan Faces Enrollment Challenge Medicare is facing challenges with low enrollment. As many seniors are starting to realize, they may pay more for the benefit than they currently spend on their drugs. As Enrollment Begins New Survey shows many seniors don't understand the benefit of Medicare, not sure if they will enroll and are wary of large number of plan choices. CCPM Urges US Senate to Reject Drug Monopolies CCPM warns the US Senate that if they do not reject drug monopolies, prescription costs for Medicare programs will dramatically increase. Doughnut Hole in Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit One of the flaws in the Medicare program is the coverage gap known as the "Doughnut Hole" that may cause US residents to learn a big lesson. Comparing The Costs Navigating the maze of offerings is tricky even for the computer-savvy. Many consumers face a struggle to see if Medicare really is a benefit to them. A Senior Moment Enrollment started on November 15, 2005 and many seniors are faced by the daunting complexity of the Medicare program. Medicare and Mass Confusion The launch of Medicare is seen as a flawed and mind-numbing complex program based upon inaccurate numbers, done at a time when the country can least afford it. Avoid Bush Administration's "Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder" Medicare Rights Center is warning people with Medicare to avoid using the internet based drug plan finder released by government as its misleading. Health Care Companies, Campaign Contributions and Medicare Discount Card While the Bush Administration has promised the new discount card will save consumers money, key findings show only the drug companies will benefit. Medicare Drug Plan Shuts Out Millions More than 2 million needy people aren't quite poor enough to qualify for assistance as assets qualify for income Low Enrollment Could Drive Up Medicare If enrollment falls short of projection forecasted by the government, beneficiaries with the highest drug expenses could face higher premiums Medicare Plans Mean Further Confusion Americans over 65 will be bombarded by persuasive and confusing propaganda urging them to sign up for Medicare even though its not obligatory. Opinion Pieces Summary of various opinions of law makers and other Medicare experts on the new Medicare Rx Benefit. Medicare Elimination of Essential Drugs Will Affect Elderly Several important categories of medications will be explicitly excluded from Medicare's prescription drug benefit. Mistaken Medicare Letter Gives Senior Citizens a Dose of Confusion A glitch with the Medicare prescription drug transition mistakenly sent roughly 20,000 - 30,000 people a letter telling them they have been automatically enrolled. Opinion Pieces Discuss Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit A collection of recently published editorials and opinion prices on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. New Medicare Plan to Cut Off Free Drugs The new Medicare drug program is about to curtail a benefit enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of uninsured patients: free medicine Part D Plan Touts No Deductible Plans A comparison of plans shows that higher co-payments and premiums can outweigh the advantage of first-dollar coverage and premiums. New Medicare Benefit Helps Only Drug Companies While Medicare seems to be benefiting drug companies, patients are asking whether they will benefit. Lost in the Medicare Maze A consumers report on how they were baffled by the incomprehensible turn Medicare has taken As Enrollment Begins, New Sew Survey Underscores Challenges Many seniors say they don't understand the benefit Seniors Seethe at Medifarce Just who stands to gain with the new Medicare plan? The insurance companies, for one. Stressed Over Medicare Drug Plan Choices Health providers are stressed over their patients asking for advice and research on whether Medicare is right for them The Coming Drug Bust The newest Medicare benefit is confusing and costly. It may not be much of a political boon to the people who created and promoted it. Medicare Premium and Deductible Increases A chart of the annual increases for Part D that you pay New Medicare Drug Plan Fails to Provide Meaningful Discounts New plans are shown to provide less discounts that Canadian and other similar options. VA Program Practical Model for Medicare A comparison of the VA program to the complex and costly Medicare model. Prognosis Perplexing Lack of drug pricing info in new Medicare prescription program makes it difficult for seniors to choose plan. Agency Uncovers Problems in Drug Discount Program Choosing Medicare prescription drug plan is brain-teaser Medicare Will Consume Almost All Income Taxes by 2075 Trustee for Social Security, Medicare testifies before Senate Budget Committee Prescription drug plan is too confusing and complicated Profit-driven Medicare drug plan stirs confusion and anger Medicare Part D: The 'D' stands for 'dumb' Glitch inflates Medicare drug costs Medicare drug plan needs major overhaul How Wrong and for How Long? Medicare bill marks major step in destruction of government health plan for US seniors Group Questions Referrals From Medicare Drug Hotline Only 8% of Eligible Seniors Approved for Medicare Drug Program Talking Turkey About Medicare Things to remember before enrolling in Medicare Even after wading through the confusion of myriad plans, people may still find themselves unable to afford all of the medications they need. Which Plan? The Answers Are Out There Republicans Find They Have to Sell Drug Benefit Plan Congress likely to feel pain on Part D Insurers are spending millions of dollars promoting their Medicare drug plans. Trends in Manufacturer Prices of Prescription Drugs Used by Older Americans Boiling down plans for comparison USA Today Examines Differences in Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Read the Fine Print Before Signing Up for Medicare's Drug Benefit Neediest may be hurt by new Medicare drug plan Only One Out of Nine Low-Income Seniors Approved for New Medicare Drug Subsidies Study: Medicare misses drug discounts The new Part D plans can't negotiate the kind of deals with drug companies that the program might get as a whole, according to the report. Know Your Rights Many others are signing up for plans that appeared to cover their drugs, but will soon discover that the plans require prior approval before paying for some medicines. Statement on New Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment Echoing Earlier Reports, Consumers Group Finds Medicare Drug Prices Higher Than VA