Lincoln: Medicare Rx Drug Plan Names Need Changing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2006
Contact: Katie Laning (202)224-4843

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) today called on the Administration to enforce greater transparency in the marketing of 2007 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan names.

In a letter sent today to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, Lincoln called for revising plan names to eliminate misleading information which could confuse seniors signing up for the drug program. Lincoln pointed to the fact that many plan names include the word "complete" and similar descriptions yet the plan contains a gap in coverage.

Lincoln, a member of the Senate Finance Committee with jurisdiction over Medicare, and 15 of her Democratic Senate colleagues called for immediate action so that seniors receive accurate information about next year’s drug coverage. Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program beginning this Wednesday, November 15. The enrollment period ends December 31 and coverage begins January 1, 2007.

The complete text of the letter is below:

Dear Secretary Leavitt:

We are concerned that many of the 2007 Medicare Part D plan names are misleading and will be confusing to seniors. With the open enrollment period set to start on November 15th, we urge you to take immediate steps to ensure seniors are provided accurate information about the available plans.

Nearly all of the national plans contain a gap in drug coverage known as the donut hole, but you would never know this by reading through the list of plan names. Many of the national plan names include the words "complete," "premier plus" or "gold".

Although several of these plans do cover generic drugs in the donut hole, seniors in these plans will have to pay one hundred percent of the cost out-of-pocket for brand name products. How can a plan be called "complete" when it contains a gap in drug coverage?

The Medicare Part D marketing guidelines should be revised to ensure that plan names are not confusing or downright misleading. In addition, if a plan contains a gap in coverage, it should be required to disclose this gap in all of its marketing materials.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.