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Medicare Part D Prescription Insurance

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Medicare Part D Drug benefit is also known as Medicare Rx. “On January 1, 2006 Medicare initiated the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit, authorized by Congress under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, known as “MMA”” (Medicareadvocacy.org). Medicare Part D enables Medicare beneficiaries to purchase outpatient medications at retail, home infusion, mail order and long-term care pharmacies.

Medicare Part D coverage is available two different ways. Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) are one option. “Drug coverage is added to original Medicare and some Medicare PFFS plans in a PDP” (Medicare & You 2014). There were 32 independent PDPs in Nebraska as of 2013 and 155,235 Nebraska beneficiaries enrolled in PDPs as of 2012 (Ehealthmedicare.com).

The second option is Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PDs). MA-PDs offer hospital, medical and prescription drug coverage under one policy, perhaps an HMO or PPO. “To join a Medicare Advantage plan, you must have Part A and Part B” (Medicare & You 2014).

What is covered with Medicare Part D? “Medicare Part D must cover all commercially available vaccines (like the shingles vaccine) to prevent illness, except for vaccines covered under Part B” (Medicare & You 2014). This is important in preventing illnesses in the elderly. Insulin and insulin syringes; and smoking cessation drugs are also covered under Part D. Some drugs that are excluded include: Over-the-counter drugs, weight loss drugs, cough and cold drugs; and drugs purchased in another country. Part D drugs must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale in the US and available only by prescription.

There are no pre-existing condition criteria for Part D coverage...

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...nd a toll free phone number 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). The website and toll free phone number are listed numerous times throughout the handbook.

Works Cited

Banks, Katie. "Medicoverage - Affordable Health Insurance Quotes." Medicare Part D Insurance. Regal Benefits Insurance Services, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. .

Kaiser, Henry. "Find Medicare Part D Insurance in NE." Nebraska Medicare Part D Plans. eHealthinsurance Services, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. .

Meliso, Pamela. "CMA || Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.." Introduction to Medicare Part D. CMA, 30 June 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. .

Tavenner, Marilyn. "Get Information About Prescription Drug Coverage." Medicare & You 2014. Baltimore: US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013. . Print.
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