There now are more than 25 million ...

There now are more than 25 million Medicare beneficiaries with prescription unsalable article coverage, according to the HHS--close to the goal of 30 million enrollee in the first year. From December 2005 by means of February 2006, 5.3 million individual beneficiaries signed up for mix with drugs coverage. Most new enrollees chose plans other than the standard benefit, with many opting for cheap deductibles; fixed copays for prescriptions rather than coinsurance; and coverage in the "donut hole" where beneficiaries are responsible for 100 percent of outlays New enrollees in the more extensive Medicare Advantage health plans exce 500000 The CM still drives beneficiaries to sign up for physic coverage at least two to three weeks before they plan to use it. Signing up early in the month makes it more likely that patients will earn their prescriptions filled quickly. Enrollment is explain until May 15, 2006. For more information and specific enrollment figures, visit http://wwwhhsgov/news/press/2006pres/20060222html A fact sheet produc by the agency of the CMS for patients is available onward the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Web site at http://www.aafp.org/x42523.xml.

COPYRIGHT 2006 American Academy of Family Physicians

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