Medicare Part D: Difference between revisions
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imported>Robert Badgett (→Criticisms: fixed links) |
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==Criticisms== | ==Criticisms== | ||
Medicare Part D has been criticized for its "Byzantine complexity"<ref>Cooper HA. Medicare drug benefit. N Engl J Med. 2006 May 4;354(18):1960-1; author reply 1960-1. PMID 16672714</ref> and "doughnut hole" coverage.<ref>Kravitz RL, Chang S. Promise and perils for patients and physicians. N Engl J Med. 2005 Dec 29;353(26):2735-9. PMID 16382057</ref> | Medicare Part D has been criticized for its "Byzantine complexity"<ref>Cooper HA. [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/354/18/1960 Medicare drug benefit]. N Engl J Med. 2006 May 4;354(18):1960-1; author reply 1960-1. PMID 16672714</ref> and "doughnut hole" coverage.<ref>Kravitz RL, Chang S. [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/26/2735 Promise and perils for patients and physicians]. N Engl J Med. 2005 Dec 29;353(26):2735-9. PMID 16382057</ref> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 09:28, 12 July 2008
In the United States of America, Medicare Part D is a "stand-alone drug plan offered by insurers and other private companies to beneficiaries that receive their Medicare Part A and/or B benefits through the Original Medicare Plan.[1]
Who is eligible for coverage
Anyone with Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B is eligible for Part D.
Components
There are two ways a patient may obtain Medicare Part D coverage:[2]
- Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP). These plans only cover the costs of prescription drugs and are for patients who use the Original Medicare Plan (e.g. Parts A and B) that provides fee-for-service coverage of their health care costs.
- Medicare Health Plans. These comprehensive plans cover the costs of both health care and prescription drugs. These plans include Medicare Advantage Plans (Medicare Part C) and other types of health plans.
Criticisms
Medicare Part D has been criticized for its "Byzantine complexity"[3] and "doughnut hole" coverage.[4]
History
Medicare Part D was enacted as the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003."[1] Coverage provided by the plan began January 1, 2006.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Anonymous (2024), Medicare Part D (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ↑ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Prescription Drug Coverage
- ↑ Cooper HA. Medicare drug benefit. N Engl J Med. 2006 May 4;354(18):1960-1; author reply 1960-1. PMID 16672714
- ↑ Kravitz RL, Chang S. Promise and perils for patients and physicians. N Engl J Med. 2005 Dec 29;353(26):2735-9. PMID 16382057