October Canadian Pharmacy News
News Issue October 2005
Doughnuts
Anyone?
Understanding Medicares new enrollment policies, deductibles, and
‘doughnut holes’.
With deductibles,
premiums, co-payments and doughnut holes, how does the new Medicare
Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) really benefit?
Natural
Disasters: Pack Your Health Toolbox
As Hurricane Katrina leaves an entire region of the country homeless
and the rest of the nation stunned, it is an important time to consider
how prepared you would be if disaster strikes in your area.
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Doughnuts Anyone?
Understanding Medicares new enrollment policies, deductibles, and
‘doughnut holes’.
With deductibles, premiums, co-payments
and doughnut holes, how does the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
(Part D) really benefit? According to recent studies, the plan will
actually be costing more for beneficiaries than prescriptions they
would be getting filled by a licensed, certified Canadian Pharmacy.
The costs are high and the benefits
complicated and unclear. Not only will beneficiaries be paying a premium
of $33 every month, they will have a $250 annual deductible along
with co-payments for each drug, with costs varying on what drug plan
is chosen. Costs are expected to increase every year.
In the study conducted by the Kaiser
Family Foundation, 73% of seniors said they would not enroll with
the Medicare Plan or do not have enough information regarding it.
Some are concerned they will not meet the qualifying levels for lower-income
subsidies while others fear the greater costs and the inability to
get the drug coverage that will meet all of their needs.
Starting in 2006, under Part D, after
paying the deductible of $250 beneficiaries will pay for 25% of their
drug costs until drug costs reach $2,250. Part D has an unusual and
largely untested design, a coverage gap known as the ‘doughnut
hole,’ where participants pay for 100% of costs until reaching
the catastrophic limit of $5,100. This results in $2,850 out of pocket
expenses and higher annual expenditures. The calculations alone are
complex and confusing.
According to the Kaiser study, the
choice of drug plans makes some people quite skeptical about the stability
and viability of the private plans. Most seniors are confused and
concerned about the process of choosing between plans that will meet
all of their needs. Like gas prices, they do not feel that the competition
will drive drug prices down. As drug pricing is not regulated, there
is no guarantee that drug prices will not rise once you are locked
into a plan.
Don’t let your decision be hurried
by concerns of paying a penalty for delays in enrolling or the onslaught
of information on the different plans, glossy literature and TV commercials
that you will be inundated with the months to come. Think twice, and
encourage your friends and family members to carefully research their
options.
In the last 5 years, American patients
have saved between 30 – 70 % on drugs dispensed by licensed
Canadian pharmacies and enjoy the convenience of having their medications
shipped to their doorstep. Unlike Plan D, MediSave.ca has been filling
your prescriptions regardless of any changes that affect your health.
By offering quality meds at low prices we are available for everyone
who is seeking to significantly save on their prescription drugs.
For more info on the Kaiser Family Foundation
study, please go to: http://www.kff.org/medicare/rxdrugbenefit.cfm
As always, thank you for doing business
with MediSave.ca.
Natural
Disasters: Packing Your Health Toolbox
As Hurricane Katrina leaves an entire
region of the country homeless and the rest of the nation stunned,
it is an important time to consider how prepared you would be if disaster
strikes in your area.
Keeping appropriate medical supplies
and necessary papers on hand will help to ensure that you stay as
healthy as possible if the worst does happen. The Centers for Disease
Control recommends that you put the following items in a manageable
box or bag in a readily accessible place. Keep one in your home, your
car and at work.
| General First
Aid Kit |
|
• Bandages
• Ace bandage
• Rolled gauze
• Cotton swabs
• Adhesive medical tape
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Thermometer
• Bar soap |
• Pocket knife
• Safety pins
• Instant cold packs
• Sanitary napkins
• Splinting supplies
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Antibiotic ointment
• Alcohol swabs
• Tissues or toilet paper |
| Medications and Individual
Needs |
|
• Aspirin and
non-aspirin tablets
• Anti-diarrhea medicine
• Eye drops
• Any long-term prescription medications
• An epipen or asthma inhaler, if necessary
• Hearing aid batteries and extra set of glasses, if necessary |
It is best to keep these supplies in a
fire- and water-proof box, but storing them in a bag in your refrigerator
is a good alternative, as refrigerators provide fairly good protection
from fire. Be sure to check the pack regularly to be sure that prescriptions
and other medications are up-to-date.
Since you are most likely to be at home if there is an emergency, it
is a good idea to stock additional supplies in a closet or other cool
place. If you have babies or young children, include necessities for
them, such as formula, diapers, pacifiers, bottles and powdered milk.
The American Red Cross suggests stocking your home with a two-week supply
of food and water. This would include three gallons for each person
in the home and sufficient canned goods. (Don't forget to include a
manual can opener.)
As far as paperwork goes, include copies of driver's licenses, passports
or other forms of identification. Keep copies of your credit cards and
medical prescriptions, as well as some cash, just in case.
The idea of preparing for an emergency can be frightening. But, as recent
events have shown, a little foresight can prevent major health emergencies
and allow you to stay calm and safe until help arrives.
At Medisave.ca we are here to help
and can provide the necessary prescription and OTC drugs required
to stock your water-proof boxes. Call us today to begin filling your
health toolbox.
Your
Comments
“Just a personal
Thank You from a very happy and appreciative customer in sunny Arizona.
Both my husband and I are grateful for you and for Canada’s
assistance to us.”
J&K.L
“Love the newsletter. Live in
Tennessee and from Canada. It is refreshing to get info on your different
news subjects and keep us informed. Will probably be using your services
soon because we lost our insurance here in TN.”
E.P.
“We would like to commend you
for the fast response to the processing of my order for my medications.
We received it within 5 days. Thank you so much, keep up your good
work.”
G.R.
MediSave
Customer Feedback
We greatly appreciate the time you have placed
for your feedback. It has been an integral role in the services that
we are offering. So please keep your feedback coming and stay tuned
for more changes!
We would love to hear your comments on this
issue of the newsletter plus if you have any additional feedback or
suggestions in regards to our service or for upcoming Medisave.ca
newsletters please let us know via e-mail at:
CustomerService@Medisave.ca
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