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The Medicare+Choice program is at a crossroads in
2002. Government payments under the program have come under fire for
being insufficient for plans to do business in many markets.
Prescription drug costs, among other health care costs, have in many
cases escalated beyond the plan’s ability to reasonably control them
under the program. As a result, many plans have exited the program in
specific markets, and a large portion of the plans that remain have
implemented prescription benefit reductions and or premium increases.
Yet numerous Medicare HMO surveys have indicated the prescription benefit is a primary driver for Medicare beneficiary selection of health coverage options. Thus as all interested parties move forward in addressing these issues, and examination of recent prescription drug benefit coverage, satisfaction, and perceptions for the Medicare population would be beneficial to all involved.
