MEDICARE Q & amp;A Drug plans vary widely

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Q. My neighbor and I both signed up for the Medicare drug benefit. I was surprised to learn that her plan doesn't cover the same drugs as mine and has a lower monthly premium. Why are they so different? -- Denise
A. It's not surprising that your Medicare drug plan is different from your neighbor's. In most states, people on Medicare can choose from more than 40 Medicare drug plans. As it turns out, there are some fairly important differences among the plans. It is a good idea to pay attention to these differences because they can have a big impact on the amount you pay for your prescriptions.
To start, monthly premiums for the Medicare drug benefit vary quite a bit. While the national average premium for a Medicare drug plan is $32 per month, some companies offer drug plans for less than $10 per month, while others charge more than $100. This differs from Medicare Part B, which has a uniform, national premium of $88.50 per month.
The Medicare drug plans also vary in terms of deductibles and cost-sharing. For example, while most of the Medicare drug plans do not have an annual deductible, some do. Also, most plans have a gap in coverage, known as the "doughnut hole," but a few plans do not. And, there can be big differences from plan to plan in the amount enrollees are required to pay for a given drug.
The Medicare drug plans also differ in the list of drugs that they cover. The Medicare drug plans must meet the minimum requirements but are not required to cover all drugs. As a result, some plans are more restrictive in what they cover than others.
The new Medicare drug plans differ in ways that are not always obvious, but could have a big impact on the amount you might pay at the pharmacy and whether you are able to get the drugs that you need. The plan that is best for your neighbor is not necessarily right for you.
XThis column was prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation, an independent, nonprofit private foundation based in Menlo Park, Calif., not affiliated with the Kaiser Permanente health plan. Send questions about the new Medicare drug benefit to Medicare Q & amp;A, The Kaiser Family Foundation, 1330 G St., NW, Washington, DC 20005 or MedicareQ@kff.org.