Archive for November, 2007

2008 Social Security and Medicare increases

Friday, November 30th, 2007

D EAR SAVVY SENIOR: Can you give me a full rundown on the Social Security and Medicare increases for 2008? - Looking Ahead
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THE COVERAGE GAP; Avoiding Medicare’s Big Hole

Friday, November 30th, 2007

24donut-75 THE COVERAGE GAP; Avoiding Medicares Big HoleA gap in Medicare’s prescription drug coverage is helping to curb growth in the nation’s drug spending by pushing people toward low-cost generic drugs.
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Neil Downing: You can’t enroll in 2 Medicare drug plans at the same time

Friday, November 30th, 2007

If you’re a beneficiary of the federal Medicare health insurance program, you have until the end of this month to sign up for a prescription drug plan under Medicare Part D, which helps cover your outpatient prescription drug costs.
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CQRC Statement on the NY Times Article on Medicare’s Home Oxygen Benefit

Friday, November 30th, 2007

Washington, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today’s New York Times story on home oxygen therapy omits salient facts about home oxygen therapy and the critical role it plays in keeping some of Medicare’s sickest beneficiaries in their own homes as they manage the effects of debilitating and irreversible lung disease.
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NCPA Statement on Bogus PCMA Study About Cost to Fix Medicare Part D

Friday, November 30th, 2007

ALEXANDRIA, Va. has released a study falsely claiming that pending legislation requiring prompt payment of Medicare Part D prescription drug claims will cost billions of dollars.
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Medicare Spends Billions Annually on Products Available at Lower Prices

Friday, November 30th, 2007

Nov 30, 2007 - “Despite enormous buying power, Medicare pays far more” than individuals for equipment and services that are “available at far lower prices from retail pharmacies and online stores,” the New York Times reports.
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Help with complex Medicare Part D

Friday, November 30th, 2007

Medicare beneficiaries signing up for prescription drug coverage now through Dec. 31 have a new Web tool to help them compare plans and costs. Called Plan Finder, the Medicare site lists premiums, co-pays and deductibles by state.
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Groups, Lawmakers Lobby Against Medicare Payment Reductions

Friday, November 30th, 2007

Advocacy groups have begun to lobby lawmakers as Senate Finance Committee members discuss a Medicare bill that likely will decrease reimbursements for some health care providers to finance the suspension of a 10% reduction in payments for physicians scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2008, CQ HealthBeat reports.
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