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Medicare Part D, the Prescription Drug Plan
Beginning this fall, older Americans will be faced with a choice of joining the Medicare prescription drug program (Part D) or remaining in drug coverage if they are fortunate enough to have their employers or states provide prescription drug care. The complexity of this plan will reverberate in Congress. The AFT is supporting two substantive changes in the law. They would allow creation of a national Medicare-administered program and permit Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. Both of these changes are prohibited under present law. No changes are likely, however, before the end of 2006.
There are several major points that should be made about the new program:
� Coverage is an individual choice. Each person must elect to be covered. Your Part D drug coverage will not extend to your spouse.
� To be eligible for Part D, you must be covered by either Medicare A or B. If your spouse is not covered by one or both parts of Medicare, he/she will not be eligible for Part D.
� Unless you are covered by a drug plan as good as or better than Part D coverage, you must choose a Part D plan between Nov. 15 and May 15. Joining Part D after May 15, 2006, will require a 1 percent increase in the monthly premium for each month you failed to join for the entire time you are covered by a Part D plan.
For more information on Medicare and the Part D drug coverage, check the fact sheet and checklist developed by the AFT and posted in the Retiree area of the AFT Web site http://www.aft.org/retirement, (click on 'Resources' on the menu bar on the left) and Medicare Interactive/AFT, www.medicareinteractive.org\aft, (a special Web site co-sponsored by the AFT and the Medicare Rights Center).
Nutrition Tip
You don't have to ban all chocolate from your diet. In small quantities, like a truffle or a bite sized bar, you can enjoy these special desserts. And the good news is that dark chocolate has natural antioxidants that benefit blood pressure and insulin sensitivity. So consider eating dark chocolate over milk chocolate�just keep it to a small bite.
Guide to the New Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage: http://www.aarp.org/health/medicare/drug_coverage/guide_to_the_new_medicare_prescription_drug_covera.html/