Press Release

Burgess and Pharmacies Help Seniors With Medicare Drug Program

The new Medicare Prescription Drug program may be “the most monumental change ever to happen to Medicare,” said Kris Thompson to a packed house of seniors in Onawa last week, but signing up is easier than it looks.

Thompson was invited by Burgess Health Center to speak about the new Medicare Prescription Drug program, also known as Medicare Part D, that goes into effect January 1. As a senior health advocate of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program, Thompson has traveled the state for months addressing senior groups.

“Everybody has to make a choice about Medicare Part D,” said Thompson. “You have to put all the facts down and then make a decision based on your personal situation. Persons with no cost or low-cost drugs should still sign up. You will save yourself frustration and gamble” if health problems develop later that require expensive medications.

Medicare seniors must enroll in the new Medicare program from Nov. 15 to May 15, Thompson said. After May 16 a lifetime penalty of seven percent kicks in. That can be hefty if a senior suddenly faces thousands of dollars of medication bills.

Iowa has many inexpensive plans, Thompson added, stressing that she cannot endorse plans in her position. In Iowa premiums range from $1.87 a month to $99 a month, and no plans can charge more than $250 deductible.

Seniors should have received thick booklets about the Medicare Prescription Drug program which list plans in each state. The book shows 41 different stand-alone prescription drug plans by more than a dozen companies just in Iowa. Medicare also offers plans.

“You will want to look for the plan that pays for the most expensive medication,” advised Thompson, and make sure your pharmacy is participating. Representatives of the area pharmacies told the group they were participating in all the Iowa plans.

Seniors won’t be locked into their decision for life, Thompson said. Every year an open enrollment period will allow seniors to switch plans.

Seniors without a computer who connect with family members or friends will gain valuable help in making their decision, said Thompson. If a senior logs into the Medicare web site a web tool will bring up the top plans for consideration under the heading “Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.” Seniors will need to fill in blanks and will receive a print-out the report to study and make a choice. The web site is www.medicare.gov.

“We presented this program as a community service to help area residents better understand the new Medicare drug program,” said Sandy Rose, Burgess’ pharmacist in Whiting. “I think it answered a lot of questions.”

Additional hand-outs from the seminar are available at the Burgess Health Center front desk or by calling Burgess at 423-2311.