Many people may be able to save money by changing Medicare Part D plans this year. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, up to 74 percent of  Medicare beneficiaries in standalone Part D plans nationally will see premium increases. Some plans that aren’t increasing premiums are increasing the amount of your co-pays. Open enrollment runs Nov. 15-Dec. 31 for people who did not previously enroll when first eligible, or for current Part D beneficiaries who want to change Part D plans. 

Current Part D enrollees should have received your Annual Notice of Change letter from the company that sponsors your plan by Oct. 31, 2007. Is your plan making significant changes that will increase your cost? It is important to make sure you are in the plan that is best for you.

More than 250,000 Minnesotans are enrolled in Part D plans with four companies: BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Memberhealth and United HealthCare (including the AARP plans). These four companies sponsor 15 plans in Minnesota, of which 11 are increasing premiums from 15 to more than 70 percent. One plan’s premium is going up by 134 percent. These are by no means the only companies increasing premiums;  if you are enrolled in other Part D plans, check your Annual Notice of Change from your plan to see if your premium is increasing.

The four companies with the highest Minnesota enrollment also have one plan each that is decreasing in premium. The decreases run from 4 percent to 49 percent. If you are in a plan that is lowering its premium, be sure you know what is happening to the benefits. Are the co-pays increasing? One plan that covered brand-name drugs through the donut hole in 2007 will cover only generic drugs in the donut hole in 2008. 

Besides the premium and co-pays, be sure you know whether your plan will still cover your drugs the same way in 2008. Plans can change their formularies (their lists of covered drugs) significantly in 2008; they may no longer cover one or more of the drugs you take, or they may move that drug to the non-preferred brand-name drug tier that requires the higher co-pay. Be sure you know what will happen with your specific drugs.

There were four plans in 2007 that have been available at $0 premium to people who qualify for full Extra Help (reduced premium if you qualify for partial Extra Help) paying for Part D that will no longer be available in 2008: 

• Fox Rx Care Choice Plan
• Health Net Orange Option 2
• AARP MedicareRx Plan
• WellCare Signature

There are 16 plans in 2008 that work for people with Extra Help. Be sure to join one of these 16 that covers all your drugs. If you need a list of these plans, call the Health Plan Information Center at the Minnesota Senior Federation or see the new 2008 Health Care Choices for Minnesotans with Medicare (free to members). The Extra Help paying for Part D is available to people with Medicare who make under $1,276 per month (single) (or $1,711 per month for a couple), and have assets of under $11,710 (single) ($23,410 for a couple).

The best way to know which plan will be the best plan for you in 2008 will be to go online at www.medicare.gov, choose “Compare Plans,” follow the steps and type in your own drugs. If you need help doing this, or if you don’t have access to a computer, call the Health Plan Information Center at 651/783-5045 or 866/783-5045 Monday through Friday. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. 

Part D evaluations and enrollment events will be held at the Federation office in St. Paul on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Additional dates may become available in December and one-on-one appointments are often available if made in advance. 

Know how your Part D plan is changing for 2008. Call us or the Senior LinkAge Line at 800/333-2433 if you need help.