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Rx Resources“Because this is such an important decision, I am supporting legislation to give seniors more time to choose their prescription drug plan, free of penalties.”
ConsistencyIt’s no secret that seniors are having difficulty navigating the confusing new prescription drug plan offered through Medicare. Senator Nelson is cosponsoring the Prescription Drug Benefit Protection Act, giving seniors some needed peace of mind by assuring them that the drug plan they enrolled in will cover the drugs it said it would when the senior enrolled in that plan. To reduce confusion and build consistency, the bill prohibits approved Medicare drug plan providers from removing a drug from their list of “covered” drugs on the date of enrollment through the end of the calendar year. Under current law, prescription drug plans can change their drug formulary as many times as they want but seniors are prohibited from changing drug plans except during the annual open enrollment period with very limited exceptions. Click here to read the Prescription Drug Benefit Protection Act Press Release. ProtectionTo give seniors more time to make informed decisions regarding their prescription drug coverage under the first year of the new Medicare Prescription Drug program, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson has cosponsored the Medicare Informed Choice Act (S. 1841). Medicare beneficiaries face a number of prescription drug options and choosing the right plan can be a challenge. Ben Nelson supports a bill that eases some pressure for beneficiaries enrolling in the first year of this new drug program. The Medicare Informed Choice Act is a clear bill with three important protections: Delay Late Enrollment Penalties: The bill expands the existing six-month open enrollment period to the entire year of 2006. This will give people added time to do the research and make the best decisions for themselves. Protections Against Bad Choices: The bill gives every beneficiary the opportunity to make a one-time change in plan enrollment at any point in 2006. Given the importance of the decision they make, it is appropriate to give beneficiaries a second chance to correct an initial mistake made during the first year of implementation. Protections for Employer-provided Retiree Benefits: This provision would protect employees from being dropped by their former employer’s plan during the first year of implementation, so that beneficiaries have time to correct enrollment mistakes. The Medicare Informed Choice Act is part of Ben Nelson's overall Healthcare Agenda that aims to lower costs, increase access and improve healthcare for all Nebraskans. Click here to listen to Ben Nelson's Audio File. Click here to read the Medicare Informed Choice Act Press Release. Related Online Resources for Beneficiaries and Providers:
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