MEDICARE DRUG DISCOUNT CARD

Helping Patients Choose by: Richard E. Davis and Cynthia Nolte On December 8, 2003 the President signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The first stage of the program began in May 2004 with the opportunity to enroll in the Medicare Discount Card program. This temporary program phases out when the second stage, a Medicare drug benefit, goes into effect January 1, 2006. Patients should get a prescription discount card if they do not currently have any drug coverage and pay more than $200/yr. for medication or have drug coverage that is limited by quarterly or annual benefit caps. A patient probably will not need the discount card if they have employer drug coverage, a retiree drug plan, a Medigap policy with drug coverage, prescription Advantage or a Medicare HMO. To determine which card to choose follow these steps: '¢ Make a list of the drugs you take and how much they cost. Rank them from highest out-of-pocket cost to lowest. '¢ Contact Medicare to find out which discount cards are available in your state and get information on each one. The web site: www.medicare.gov has a simple program that can help to determine which card is best for you. '¢ Compare all available discount cards, looking for the one that covers most of your medications, or covers your most expensive medication. '¢ Call the card company's toll-free number and verify that the drugs and discounts are actually offered by the company. '¢ Get an application from the company so that you can enroll. Some of the best discount cards are being offered by the major drug companies like Astra Zeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Wyeth announced that they offer their products either at no charge or for a very small fee once low-income seniors spend their $600. For instance the Pfizer, U Share Card, allows the user to pay a flat $15 for a 30 day supply of medication. Physicians can assist their patients in reducing their prescription costs by advising them if a prescription which is covered under their discount card can be safely substituted for a medication, they are taking, that is not on their plan. Cynthia Nolte is a Geriatric Care Manager & Elder Law Paralegal and Richard Davis is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with the Law Firm of Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty, Canton, Ohio.