::  Point of View  ::

For the first time ever, individuals with Medicare Part A and Part B, regardless of income, health status, or prescription drug usage, will have access to prescription drug coverage. This voluntary coverage begins on January 1, 2006 and enrollment starts November 15, 2005.

Whenever you are considering a new health coverage plan, there are a lot of questions. The following are some frequently-asked questions that my office is often asked that may help you or a loved one decide if the Medicare Prescription Drug plan is right for you:

Is there someone to help me choose a Medicare prescription drug plan?

You can visit the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov which contains detailed information about the plans available in your area. You may also call 1-800 MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Your local office on aging may also have some helpful advice. For the telephone number, visit www.eldercare.gov on the web. As with any major decision regarding your health or health insurance the best place to start is to talk to your trusted family members, friends, or other caregivers to help you decide what drug coverage meets your needs.

Is this Medicare prescription drug coverage better than what I have now?

If you already have prescription drug coverage through a Medicare private health plan or other insurance, check with your current plan to see if this coverage is changing. Your plan or insurer will notify you in the fall of 2005 to let you know if your coverage pays, on average, at least as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage or if it is changing.

What are the out-of-pocket costs for Medicare prescription drug coverage?

When you enroll for Medicare prescription drug coverage, you pay part of the costs and Medicare pays part of the costs. You pay a premium each month to join the drug plan. If you have Medicare Part B, you also pay your monthly Part B premium. If you belong to a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Cost Plan, the monthly premium you pay to the plan may increase if you add prescription drug coverage.

Your costs will vary depending on which plan you choose. Your plan must, at a minimum, provide a standard level of coverage as shown below. Some plans offer more coverage or lower premiums.

For Standard Coverage if you join in 2006, for covered drugs you will pay
- A monthly premium (varies depending on the plan you choose, but estimated at about $37 in 2006)
- The first $250 per year for your prescriptions. This is called your deductible.

After you pay the $250 yearly deductible, here's how the costs work:

- You pay 25% of your yearly drug costs from $250 to $2,250, and your plan pays the other 75% of these costs, then
- You pay 100% of your next $2,850 in drug costs, then
- You pay 5% of your drug costs (or a small co-payment) for the rest of the calendar year after you have spent $3,600 out-of-pocket. Your plan pays the rest.

What happens if I choose not to join a Medicare drug plan by May 15, 2006? Can I join later?

If you don’t join a plan by May 15, 2006, and you don’t currently have a drug plan that, on average, covers at least as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage, you will have to wait until November 15, 2006 to join. When you do join, your premium cost will go up at least 1% per month for every month that you wait to join. Like other insurance, you will have to pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. If you join after May 15, 2006, the next open enrollment period is November 15, 2006 to December 31, 2006. However, coverage for people who enroll during this period will not take effect until January 1, 2007.

How do I join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan?

You can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan in the following ways:

- By paper application. Contact the company offering the drug plan you have chosen and ask for an application. Once you fill out the form, mail or fax it back to the company.

- On the plan’s website. Visit the drug plan company’s website. You may be able to join online.

- At www.medicare.gov You will also be able to join a drug plan at www.medicare.gov by using Medicare’s online enrollment center. More information is available through the online tool, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder.

- By calling 1-800-MEDICARE. You can join a drug plan by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and talking to a Medicare customer service representative. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Where can I get more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage?

For more information on Medicare prescription drug coverage, you may:

- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Have your Medicare card, a list of drugs you use, and the name of the pharmacy you use ready when you call.
- Get a free copy of the booklet "Your Guide to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage," at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Check for local events for help joining or contact your local office on aging. For the telephone number, visit www.eldercare.gov on the web.

:: National Cyber Security month ::

In light of October's National Cyber Security month, please consider using information created through a new national consumer education campaign – OnGuardOnline.gov which provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.

Information at http://onguardonline.gov will provide you with the steps to take to secure your computers from hackers and viruses, guard yourselves against Internet fraud, and protect your personal information.

Log on to learn how you can minimize the chance of an Internet mishap by adopting these practices:

1. Protect your personal information. It's valuable.
2. Know who you're dealing with.
3. Use anti-virus software and a firewall, and update both        regularly.
4. Make sure your operating system and Web browser are set up properly and update them regularly.
5. Protect your passwords.
6. Back up important files.
7. Learn who to contact if something goes wrong online.