Medicare Says Its Drug Plan Web Site Easier to Use

WASHINGTON — Hoping to make it easier for beneficiaries to choose a private prescription drug plan, Medicare unveiled an updated Web site on Thursday that allows greater comparisons of price, coverage and quality.

The site (www.medicare.gov) lets beneficiaries sort plans in their communities by factors such as annual costs, the amount of premiums, and what kind of coverage the plans provide once beneficiaries have reached the so-called "doughnut hole," when coverage temporarily stops.

Beneficiaries who do not have access to the Web may obtain the same information through Medicare's toll-free hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227).

For the first time, Medicare will use a five-star rating system to compare plans based on such measures as access to care, quality of care and customer satisfaction, said Abby Block, director of the Center for Beneficiary Choice in the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"We want to encourage everyone to use our enhanced tools now and throughout the upcoming open enrollment period to review their current drug plan coverage and compare their options for 2008," said acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems.

Medicare officials say the newly designed site should be easier for beneficiaries to navigate. Last year, many found it difficult to use.

The site allows users to produce one chart comparing plans' annual cost, premiums, co-payments and coverage in the "doughnut hole." It also allows beneficiaries to sort the information by each factor, such as which has the lowest monthly premium or which has the lowest estimated annual cost based on each person's prescriptions.

Among the site's other improvements are:

— Adding a link to let beneficiaries learn which health care providers are in each plan.

— Allowing beneficiaries to estimate their out-of-pocket costs for plans in 2008 without having to enter specific drug information.

— Adding a new category of benefits that can be compared for people with end-stage renal disease.

— Allowing beneficiaries to continue enrolling for 2007 coverage through Nov. 30. The open enrollment period for 2008 begins Nov. 15 and ends Dec. 31.

With the exception of certain low-income beneficiaries who were automatically enrolled in plans by Medicare, people who currently are enrolled in a plan would remain in that plan next year unless they specifically enroll in a different plan.

Some low-income beneficiaries may be shifted to plans with lower premiums than Medicare currently pays for them, Weems said. Those beneficiaries still would have the option of shifting to a different plan. Beneficiaries who may be eligible for low-income assistance may obtain more information on the Web at www.cms.hhs.gov/limitedincomeandresources.

More than 90 percent of beneficiaries will be able to find at least one plan in their area offering lower premiums than they currently pay, Weems said.

Beneficiaries in every state — but not in every location in each state — will have access to at least one plan with a monthly premium below $20 and five with premiums below $25.

In addition to the updated Web site, Medicare will be expanding its efforts to encourage blacks, Hispanics and other ethnic groups with historically low participation levels to enroll, Weems said.

Besides print advertisements, Medicare will offer radio advertisements including some in Spanish. Toward the end of October, all Medicare beneficiaries will begin receiving an updated version of the "Medicare and You" pamphlet which explains all Medicare benefits, including the drug program.