DestinationRx, Inc. informs seniors on the impact of health reform to 2011 Medicare plans and how to respond to the changes.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DestinationRx, Inc., an industry leader in serving government agencies, health plans and PBMs by developing exchanges to compare health plan and prescription drug options, today alerts all Medicare beneficiaries of the start of the annual open enrollment period. Each year from November 15 to December 31 Medicare beneficiaries can join and make changes to their Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans for the following year. Because health reform will impact 2011 Medicare plans, it is critical for all beneficiaries to be proactive in evaluating their Medicare plans during this year’s open enrollment period. DestinationRx provides plan comparison technology that can be used to navigate and enroll in the most affordable plans based on both premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.
The Medicare program will face significant changes in 2011 that will require beneficiaries to make use of the open enrollment period to ensure they are enrolled in the best and lowest-cost Medicare plan. In 2011 beneficiaries will receive a seven percent discount on generic drugs once they reach the coverage gap known as the “doughnut hole” and a 50 percent discount on brand name prescription drugs. The impact of these discounts on out-of-pocket expenses will vary based on the drugs being taken by a beneficiary. In addition, to manage rising drug costs , many plans will increase premiums. Beneficiaries should compare plans based on both premiums and the out-of-pocket expenses associated with the drugs they are taking to guarantee they will have the lowest possible cost for the year. Another important change is that several Medicare plans are being discontinued in 2011. If a beneficiary’s plan is being canceled, they will be auto-assigned to a new plan. Beneficiaries should compare the auto-assigned plan against alternatives to be sure they are enrolled in the best plan.
“With all the changes to Medicare Part D plans, it is important this year more than ever for all beneficiaries to be aware of their current plans and alternative options. If you are complacent during open enrollment season, you may end up paying more than you need to,” said Jim Yocum, Executive Vice President of DestinationRx, “Online plan comparison tools make it easy for seniors to take charge of their healthcare options to find the most affordable plans.”
DestinationRx provides decision-support technology for beneficiaries during the open enrollment period. The online tools allow beneficiaries to compare various plan options in order determine the lowest cost plan. Beneficiaries can explore plans based on total annual cost, which accounts for both premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, to ensure that they are paying the lowest cost throughout the year. Importantly, the DestinationRx plan comparison tools allow beneficiaries to directly enroll in their chosen plan. This technology simplifies the process of navigating and joining Medicare plans during open enrollment season.
About DestinationRx
DestinationRx is the leading provider of web-based prescription drug comparison and Medicare health plan comparison and enrollment services. These services help organizations control costs and increase revenue and enable consumers to make better healthcare decisions. The DestinationRx plan and drug comparison tools are licensed by CMS (Medicare.gov), America’s largest health plans, PBMs and pharmacies as well as advocacy organizations including AARP and Consumers Union. For more information, please visit http://www.destinationrx.com.
CONTACT:
Corinth Group Communications
Amanda Breeding, 617-464-4641
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Data Management Health Hospitals Professional Services Insurance General Health Managed Care
MEDIA: