XLPharmacy - The Latest Medicare Part D News

It's that time of Year!

Open enrollment for Medicare Part D occurs every year from November 15 -December 31. All Part D beneficiaries are eligible to join, switch or drop their Medicare drug coverage during this period. Once this open enrollment period ends, most Medicare patients are locked into their current plan until the end of the year. New Medicare beneficiaries who “age in” to the Medicare program will of course be able to join a Part D plan when they become eligible, and people with limited income (those receiving Medicaid or SSI, or who applied and qualified for the Low-Income Subsidy) can change plans any time during the year.

Some patients who have limited incomes may still qualify for the Low-Income Subsidy, which can help them pay for Medicare Part D. Patients with annual income of less than $15,355 (individual) or $20,535 (family) should call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit their website to see if they qualify for this extra help, which covers a significant amount of the cost of the benefit.

Higher Medicare Plan D Costs for 2008 - XLPharmacy

During open enrollment for their Medicare drug program in 2008, folks could be in for a rude awakening, with up to $1,915 in cost increases next year for premiums and five commonly used prescriptions -- the equivalent of about two month's worth of Social Security checks.

Anyone currently enrolled in the Medicare drug program should sit down with their family right now and make sure their plan still offers a good deal next year. It is so important to take the time and shop among plans, and use the Medicare website (http://www.medicare.gov/) to check your drug costs.

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Better Blood Tests for Prostate Cancer - from XLPharmacy

A new blood test is more reliable at finding prostate cancer in its early stages by detecting a protein marker in blood plasma. Doctors say the new test, now in clinical trials, will have an accuracy of 95 percent, better than the commonly used PSA, which signals abnormal prostate conditions rather than cancer.

Most men over age 50 are familiar with PSA testing, used to detect prostate cancer, but the test can sometimes miss cancer cases. Now a new test can find cancer earlier…(Read more)

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