Medicare prescription drug plan leaves many questions

Sep 22, 2005 12:07 PM

The Welfare Fund is carefully monitoring developments in the new Medicare drug plan (Medicare Part D). The majority of senior members find the plan hard to understand and remain skeptical about whether it will be worthwhile — especially since it was written at the bidding of pharmaceutical company lobbyists.

Welfare Fund officials have been meeting with representatives of the city’s health plans to find out how they plan to implement Medicare Part D. Each carrier’s plan must be approved by the federal government by the end of September.

A major concern is how each health plan will create its own formulary (a list of preferred medications). Each plan is required to provide two drugs in each category, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Medicare Part D enrollment begins on Nov. 15. However, the plan will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2006.

Welfare Fund officials have expressed concern that some retirees will mistake the marketing materials — part of the multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns to promote the plans — for objective research. The Fund will continue to act as a watchdog to protect members’ interests and will provide updates as soon as there is additional information.

In the meantime, working with other unions and organizations, the UFT will increase pressure on Congress to lift the non-negotiable clause in the law and/or allow the importing of lower-cost drugs from Canada and Europe, as well as to eliminate those provisions that will cost some retirees thousands of dollars out-of-pocket each year.

As plans are developed and more details are announced, the Fund will provide members with information to help them make choices that will best suit their needs.