- About the Project
- Educational Programming
- Reports on Part D Policy Details
- Comparing New York State Prescription Drug Plans
- 2011 Pocket Guide to Medicare Part D
- Anatomy of a Part D Plan
- Glossary of Terms
- Common Acronyms
- Educational Resources from CURxED
- Tip Sheets from CMS
- Medicare and You
- Affirmations
- Mission Vision and Objectives
The Summer Student Intern Experience, 2010
The Summer Student Intern Experience, 2009
The Summer Student Intern Experience, 2007
Medicare Part D
- GETTING THE MOST OUT OF MEDICARE'S NEW DRUG COVERAGE
Enactment of the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act created a new market for prescription drug coverage that is overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is commonly referred to as Medicare Part D. There are 46.5 million Medicare beneficiaries. Almost 28 million of these beneficiaries currently have Part D prescription drug coverage, of which about 18 million are enrolled in stand-alone drug plans. As Medicare has evolved into a program giving seniors an increasing number of choices about plans and coverage options, the role for community outreach and education becomes crucial in order for seniors to gain the most from Medicare. Through outreach and education efforts, this project can improve the health and financial well being of the elderly community in New York.
Research conducted by Dr. Kosali Simon in the College of Human Ecology's Department of Policy Analysis and Management has analyzed the differences in generosity among plans offered to 3 million beneficiaries in New York State, many of whom may not be selecting the best plan for them due to the complexity of choices offered. Plans vary dramatically in ways that depend on the specific set of drugs needed by seniors. CMS has a web-based tool which allows seniors to determine which plan is the most affordable for them, but evidence from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that only 6% of seniors used this tool. In fact, 72% of seniors have never even been on-line.
Some seniors who are not yet enrolled may benefit from gaining drug insurance if counseled about the benefits. Other seniors who are enrolled may not have chosen the most affordable plan for them. A key goal of this program is to educate the community educators, trainers, volunteers, and ultimately the seniors about the benefits and complexities in choosing a Part D plan, resulting in increased numbers of enrollees as well as increasing the number who choose the most cost effective plans.
Experience with Medicare Part D enrollment suggests that many seniors are in a position of making poorly informed decisions. Helping seniors conduct an optimal search for a drug plan can lead to substantial savings as out of pocket drug costs vary substantially by plan and by drug. Tables are provided to compare the characteristics of plans offered in new York State. Promotional materials from the CMS Partnering web site have been collected and are provided here, as are CURxED developed educational materials. All materials amy be used in their original format and content.
With the information in this database it is possible to compare the different stand alone prescription drug plans available in your New York State. Comparisons across plans are shown in a way that will show consumers the extent of plan variation in things that will matter most to them-notably the co-pays needed for specific commonly used drugs, the monthly premium, the prior authorization rules applied to them etc. We hope that this user-friendly format material will encourage seniors to seek more assistance in conducting a plan comparison to find the most financially suitable plan for them.
2010 Annual Smith-Lever Report
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Links to relevant articles from our program:
Differences in Incentives between Stand-Alone Medicare Drug Coverage vs. Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Part D's Effects on Elderly Patients' Drug Costs and Utilization
Older Adults Prefer Less Choice Than Young Adults
Professor’s Analysis Unravels Mysteries of Medicare Drug Plans for Seniors
Hearts, Minds, and Choices: Helping Improve Decision-making Across the Life Span
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This material is based upon work supported by a grant from the Dean of the College of Human Ecology and Smith Lever funds from the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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