Web site errors add to Medicare confusion

Those searching for best prices on prescriptions find faulty information

Inaccurate information on Medicare's Web site and hot line have plagued the rollout of the new prescription-drug program, further confusing the elderly and disabled who already found it daunting to pick among the competing dozens of private insurance plans meant to save them money.
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After double-checking what she found with two insurance companies, she discovered that some of the copayments Medicare listed for her father's drugs were in error. For those medications, she found, Aetna's prices were actually lowest even though Medicare's trumpeted Plan Finder listed Humana's prices as cheaper.
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The Center for Medicare Advocacy has documented a number of problems not only with the Web site but with the toll-free hot line set up to assist the majority of seniors who don't have access to a computer.

During a test call to 800-MEDICARE, the organization said, a customer-service representative gave out erroneous information about low-income assistance.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3501121.html

them to NOT sign up for the Medicare prescription program.
Once they sign up, they can no longer use their insurance to help pay for drugs.
My parents found this out just before they were going to sign up. They were told by and adviser to stop before it was too late.
They do have a very good medical plan that covers their drugs.

This is a scam set up to help the insurance companies to reduce the payouts for elderly beneficiaries.

And I called at least SIX times. And unless someone is earning $900 or under per month, the NEW Medicare drug plan offers NOTHING 'new' or additional in discount to Seniors or Disabled. For a single SSDI recipient, for example, they have to spend out-of-pocket over $3,500, before "catastrophic" discount begins by Medicare. For Seniors, I think that number is $2,500 out-of-pocket first.

Best "plan" is NO plan...but to go to Costco, or local chain drugstore and ask for Medicare discount (10-20% off retail) as before. That's as 'good as it gets' for anyone earning over $900/mo. on Medicare.

And where, you ask, did all those Billions go that Medicare spent to implement this "new" Drug Plan? Certainly NOT to the Senior and Disabled recipients.

And our Senators and Congress-people who did NOT take time to read the fine print on this...have JUST received pay raises, and have an EXCELLENT medical plan?

While it is admirable to begin working on health care for the young...the Elderly and Disabled are JUST AS ENTITLED to said attention and care NOW. They are equally as vulnerable as any child... pleeeese!
Calling John Kerry....calling John Kerry? Why are we NOT moving forward on your campaign suggestion of ALL americans receiving NOW the same plan that our Reps NOW receive. Time passes, the sick and elderly go ENTIRELY WITHOUT MEDS (no more just cutting pills in half). And last time I checked, ordering drugs in Canada is NO LONGER significantly lower...as of the last 6 months.

I don't put much past these guys...