, Guide to Medicare Part D Prescription Coverage for People with Developmental Disabilities

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Part D Home
Key Facts
Dual Eligibles
Prescription Drug Coverage
Differences From Medicaid
Choosing a Drug Plan
Auto-Assignment
Premiums
Drug Formularies
Other Limits on Access
Excluded Medications
Off-Label Medications
Pharmacies
Cost Sharing
Long Term Care Facilities
Exceptions and Appeals
Switching to Another Plan
Coverage Comparisons
Getting Help Choosing a Plan
Important Dates
Key Terms
Resources
Transition Policies
Acknowledgements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


This Web site will help individuals who receive Medicaid and Medicare benefits, known as dual eligibles, their families and caregivers, and advocates for people with disabilities nationwide understand the new Medicare prescription drug coverage, called Part D.  Dual eligibles must make decisions about which Medicare prescription drug plan will provide access to the medications they need. 

For dual eligibles, Medicaid’s prescription drug coverage ended on December 31, 2005 and the new plans began January 1, 2006.

Each year plans submit new contracts and the benefits may change from year to year. It is important to note that everyone should check their current plan to see how it may have changed.  Beneficiaries who check their current plans and decide they want to stay with the coverage they had for 2006 will not have to re-enroll for 2007 (there are some key exceptions for certain low-income dual eligible beneficiaries (see changes in beneficiary status).  Others may want to change coverage as a result of changes in coverage policy, cost sharing or removal of a drug from a formulary for 2007.  Remember if you want to change plans you should only enroll in the new plan.  You do not need to dis-enroll from the plan you wish to leave.   

To find information, click on the topic on the left to go to a detailed explanation.

Now you can use a special browser that will read this site aloud for you.  For more information and to download the software, click below on the hand pointing to a book.

NOTE: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have updated the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, Formulary Finder and Landscape of Local Plans, all of which are available at www.medicare.gov.

CMS has developed a short demonstration on how to use these tools which can be accessed at http://www.medicare.gov/medicarereform/partdprototype.asp

This Guide is part of the Medicaid Reference Desk, which explains Medicaid for people with cognitive disabilities.  To go to the Medicaid Reference Desk home page, go to www.theDesk.info.


 

This information was prepared by the Disability Policy Collaboration, a partnership between The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy,1660 L Street, NW, Suite 701, Washington, DC 20036  www.thearc.org  www.ucp.org

                          Disability Policy Collaboration

A Guide To Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage

for people with developmental disabilities