Medicare Signup End 2006

The nation's 43 million seniors and disabled eligible for Medicare have until Sunday to choose a prescription drug plan, called Part D, for 2007. Those already enrolled who do nothing will be automatically enrolled in the same plan in January.

With so many plans to choose from, and with every person's situation different in terms of monthly drug costs and income, people need to examine their choices closely, especially since they'll be stuck with the plan they choose until 2008.

And because co-pays, deductibles, premiums and even formularies — the lists of drugs covered under the plan — have changed since Part D began last year, staying with the same plan may not be the best way to save money, experts said.

In fact, of the hundreds of seniors surveyed this fall, only five found the best deal by staying in the same plan. Surveys indicate that most seniors will stay with what they already have. Only 5 percent of enrollees said they will change plans, according to a November survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Some 36 percent of those surveyed said it was simply too much trouble to choose another plan. Fourteen percent said they didn't know they could switch to another plan, according to the survey. Even the 78 percent who said they were satisfied with their current plan may not have realized that their plan costs and benefits could change in January.

Insurers were required by law to notify enrollees of changes to Part D benefits by Oct. 31, but the Bush administration last week notified Congress that some insurers did not notify members in time. Some members of Congress are now considering extending the enrollment deadline past the first of the year to those who did not receive the new information, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

Although median premiums will fall slightly in California overall, most beneficiaries already enrolled in drug plans will actually see premium increases, according to a California HealthCare Foundation examination of Part D in the state.
Many Californians will have to switch plans if they want to take advantage of the increase in availability of lower-cost plan options, however that's easier said than done, however.

No matter which plan enrollees choose, basic costs will go up. The annual deductible — the price enrollees must pay out of pocket before any benefit kicks in — will rise to $265 in 2007, up from $250 this year.

And the doughnut hole costs will change. After the $265 annual deductible, plans typically pay 75 percent of drug costs, and the enrollee pays 25 percent until total drug costs reach $2,400.

Then enrollees fall into the doughnut hole and must pay the total retail price of their drugs until they reach spending of $5,451 for the year (in other words, they can pay as much as $3,051 out of pocket in the gap). Thereafter, they will only pay 5 percent of the drug costs.

Smoking may be connected with Erectile Dysfunction

Smoking a pack of cigarettes per day can increase the risk of impotence by up to 40 per cent, it has been claimed. Researchers surveying men in Australia concluded that erectile problems increase in direct proportion to the amount of cigarettes smoked. Those smoking less than 20 cigarettes were still 24 per cent more likely than non-smokers to join the ten per cent of men who suffer from erectile dysfunction.

"The good news is that quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of circulatory problems such as impotence," said Deborah Arnott, director of the Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity. "Young men who want to avoid the embarrassment and distress of impotence can help themselves by quitting smoking before such problems arise."

Australia's Study of Health and Relationships also found that cardiovascular disease and old age increased the risk of impotence, but, as Chris Millett from Imperial College London said, such causes "can feel distant".
Mr Millett hopes to provide a wake-up call to the third of men aged 20-24 who smoke in the UK. "By highlighting this link between smoking and erectile problems we may be able to motivate these men to quit," he said.

Translating the 9.1 per cent impotence ration to the UK population suggests that over 700,000 British men aged between 30 and 50 may suffer some form of impotency. The Department of Health recently launched a high profile publicity campaign with posters aimed at highlighting the effect smoking has on sexual performance.

XLPharmacy Canada

What is happening in Congress and Medicaid D?

1. Members said the break in coverage was needed to cut program costs, but plan sponsors and pharmacy benefit managers continue to record double digit earnings from the program.

2. It appears that the creation of the doughnut hole has‘set the law’ for a special interest hand out to big business.

3. Even more disturbing, as our seniors face increased Medicare premium expenses next year, they are going to find fewer plans that offer brand name drug coverage in the doughnut hole.

4. Another twist? In what was deemed a "cost savings" move, Congress indexed the coverage gap for inflation. This means next year seniors will pay even more for drugs, as profits soar higher for big business. In 2007, when a senior reaches $2400 in total drug costs (up from $2251 this year) coverage will stop and then resume only when the senior spends a total of $5,451.21, which is an increase of $351.21 from this year's $5100 total.

Congress recognizes there is something truly rotten in Medicare Part D...now what do they plan to do about it?

Remember…Canadian Pharmacies are still a legal and cost saving alternative to this shameful mess.

XLPharmacy Canada
Safely saving you over 80% on your medications

Medicaid D - Adding Insult to Injury

Changes to the Medicare D Prescription Program in 2007 may significantly increase out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries. With an end to the seizure campaign by U.S. Customs, American seniors once again turn to licensed Canadian pharmacies for safe, affordable medications and savings superior to Medicare.

With the enrollment period for 2007 Medicare D prescription program underway, American seniors are being urged to rethink their drug plans because of new changes that can dramatically increase their enrollment costs. A lot of providers have revised the drugs that are covered under the plan and many have increased their monthly premiums, some by as much as three-fold. Although the increase to premiums averages 13% nationally, coverage for branded drugs in the "Donut Hole" or coverage gap have skyrocketed in most areas with no availability whatsoever in 13 states.

To further add insult to injury, many seniors may be forced to incur a 7% late enrollment penalty if they did not enroll when originally eligible. Annual deductibles have also increased to $265 in 2007 from $ 250 in 2006 (when applicable) including a widening of the doughnut hole that will require patients to pay $3,850 out-of-pocket before gaining catastrophic coverage, as opposed to $3,600 in 2006.

Many Canadian pharmacies, like XLPharmacy Canada (www.xlpharmacycanada.com or www.xlpharmacy-us.com), have established international operations and can offer a wide variety of approved medications from several countries often at savings superior to Medicare D. But more importantly, American seniors may find it helpful to take advantage of both options simultaneously by ordering from a Canadian pharmacy whenever their Medicare plan requires they pay full price for their medications.

Many patients order from our online pharmacy when their drugs are not covered by their plan or when they enter the doughnut hole, knowing they will never spend through it. Taking advantage of imported medications when Medicare slackens is smart and easy - something more seniors will be discovering next year for sure.