Managed Care Plans Offer No Real Choice for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries


 

Publication Date: May 2003

Publisher: Families USA

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Type: Brief

Abstract:

Under the President' s announced "Framework for Prescription Drug Legislation," prescription drug coverage would vary dramatically between traditional Medicare and private plans. Beneficiaries choosing to stay in traditional Medicare would only receive assistance once their prescription drug needs reach catastrophic levels. They would have to spend at least $4,000 -- and possibly as much as $7,500 -- before they would receive a single dollar of assistance. The only way beneficiaries can get better coverage for prescription drugs is to join private managed care plans.