Walgreens Offers Help Sorting Through Changes to Medicare Part D Plans
Free personalized report available at every Walgreens makes it easier
for seniors to identify their best choices for prescription coverage
DEERFIELD, Ill. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) November 19, 2008 --
The six-week open enrollment period for Medicare Part D is under way and
seniors are facing the annual task of evaluating prescription plans to
nail down their choices for the coming year. Medicare enrollees have
until Dec. 31 to review their current plan for any changes in cost or
coverage and make certain it still meets their needs. Again this year,
Walgreens pharmacists will be one of the best resources for Medicare
information, offering a free personalized report that makes it easier
for seniors and caregivers to weigh their options.
The report is available in minutes at any of the more than 6,500
Walgreens pharmacies nationwide or online at Walgreens.com/medicare.
Pharmacists will enter a list of the patient’s medications and generate
a printout detailing each plan’s estimated annual costs including
monthly premiums, brand and generic co-pays and coverage through the
coverage gap or “donut hole”.
“We urge people not to assume their plans will remain the same for
2009,” said Kermit R. Crawford, Walgreens senior vice president of
pharmacy. “Many plans have made significant increases in premiums or
changes to medications covered. Our report simplifies the
decision-making process by providing information tailored for each
individual in a way that makes it easy to compare options.”
Even if there have not been changes to their current plan, seniors are
encouraged to consider how their needs may have evolved over the year
and how their plan measures up against others available. Walgreens also
recommends that seniors who switch plans or those enrolling in Part D
for the first time do so well before the Dec. 31 deadline in order to
ensure processing is complete before they need to refill prescriptions
in early January.
Walgreens pharmacists can also help seniors determine whether they may
qualify for the Extra Help subsidy. Patients who meet certain income
requirements may be eligible for lower co-payments.
“We understand this decision can be overwhelming for both seniors and
caregivers. We are working to make sure people don’t miss out on
significant savings because they don’t understand how to evaluate their
options,” said Crawford. “We want seniors to know there’s a plan out
there that will work for them, and we can help them find it."
For more information on the personalized report and Medicare Part D
counseling services available at Walgreens, contact your local store or
go to www.walgreens.com/medicare.
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
is the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008 sales of $59
billion. The company operates 6,544 drugstores in 49 states, the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most
convenient access to consumer goods and cost-effective health care
services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health
Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. In
addition to specialty pharmacy services, Walgreens Health Services
assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans
through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager),
Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc. and SeniorMed LLC
(a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and
Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems, which is comprised
of: Take Care Consumer Solutions, managers of 273 convenient care
clinics at Walgreens drugstores, and Take Care Employer Solutions,
managers of worksite-based health and wellness services at 366 employer
campuses.
See the original story at: http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/walgreens_health/medicare_part/prweb1640664.htm
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