09/10/2011
Austin FraktThis is a FAQ entry. See the main FAQ index for others.
These are by no means comprehensive in covering all aspects of Medicare’s drug benefit (Part D), but they’re a start.
- Background and basics of Part D.
- Drug utilization under Part D has offsets in terms of lower non-drug utilization and expenditure.
- If the Part D benefit were more like the VA’s, we’d be saving a lot of money.
- Problems with Part D’s formulary requirements.
- The effect of out-of-pocket drug costs on medication adherence.
- Medicare’s drug benefit is welfare increasing.
- The Medicare Modernization Act, which enacted the Part D benefit, was a budget buster.
- Within the constraints of the governing statute, Part D has a sound competitive bidding design.
by Sarah Chandler on December 31st, 2011 at 16:17
The budget buster is that a person who takes no medications still needs to sign up for Part D to avoid future penalties. The easy way for the consumer is to sign up for a zero payment Advantage Plan. But then the government pays out about $800 a month to a plan that at most likely will only have to pay for a yearly physical, if that. This will be more common as baby boomers come of age.