Last January 2006, Medicare introduced its new Prescription Drug Plan, also known as Medicare Part D. The Tribune recently asked people at Cedar Crest, “Now that you’ve had a year of experience with the Medicare Part D, what you think?” Here are some of their answers.
Arlene Bezem, Erickson AdvantageSM Signature with Prescription Drugs Plan Member:
“I don’t like the ‘doughnut hole.’ I hit it this past year around the end of October. What that means is I had run up $2,250 in drug costs, which were mostly covered by Medicare Part D. After that, I had to pay everything for my medicines until my yearly out-of-pocket costs reached $3,600 or the year ended. (Luckily, the year ended!) However, I have Erickson Advantage as my Medicare plan, so I’m saving with their rates. And, we can use generic drugs. I subscribe to the Walgreen Mail Program through Erickson Advantage, and I got 90-day prescriptions that helped get me through the “doughnut hole.”
Bill Abbott, Erickson AdvantageSM Signature with Prescription Drugs Plan Member:
“I feel the same way Arlene does about Erickson Advantage. Before I came here I had another Medicare plan that cost me more in premiums. Also, with Erickson Advantage most of my prescriptions are $4. My other plan was charging me something like $10, so I’m way ahead on it. I don’t think I use it enough to hit the ‘doughnut hole.’ I haven’t hit it yet, anyway.”
Blanche Blitzer, Cedar Crest Resident:
“Brian Eber, the Erickson Advantage manager at Cedar Crest, was good enough to go over my insurance plan. He went through a whole list of things, and he checked it over and he said I should stick with what I have. So that’s what I’m doing. I find it very confusing. I feel sorry for everybody who has to figure this all out, but with the advice that I got, I’ll just stick with what I have.”