California Individual And Group Health Insurance Plans

PR Newswire - June 14: Washington - HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced that 38.2 million people with Medicare are now receiving comprehensive prescription drug coverage, in many cases even better coverage than they ever had before. A surge in enrollment took place in the closing weeks of the enrollment period, with more than 2 million beneficiaries signing up between May 1 and the May 15th deadline."Introduction of the Medicare prescription drug benefit created an unprecedented opportunity and a breathtaking challenge," Secretary Leavitt said. "The challenge has been met, and today, for over 38 million Americans - 90 percent of people with Medicare the promise is being fulfilled, day in and day out, prescription by prescription. In fact, more than 3.5 million Part D prescriptions are being filled each day and the cost of monthly plan premiums is nearly 40 percent lower than original estimates."The average premium in 2006 for beneficiaries, not counting retiree coverage, is less than $24. In addition, 87 percent of beneficiaries chose plans other than the standard benefit, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)."With help from thousands of partners across the country, and personalized assistance from 1-800-MEDICARE people with Medicare and their family members were able to get the drug coverage they prefer at a far lower cost than expected," said CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. "Thanks to Medicare beneficiaries making informed choices to meet their needs, the costs of Medicare drug coverage are way down and we will continue to support effective competition to provide high- quality, low-cost coverage."Total enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans increased by over 26 percent (1,249,041 self enrollees) during the six month enrollment period, bringing the total number of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans to 7.4 million. Included in that total are about 4.8 million who chose to enroll in these plans before January, 2006.About 87 percent of all beneficiaries who enrolled in a prescription drug plan chose a plan that offers coverage other than the standard benefit, such as no deductibles or coverage in the "donut hole." Most beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans are also getting more comprehensive drug coverage than in the standard plan. In addition, almost 10 million low-income beneficiaries are getting comprehensive drug coverage for little or no cost.Among the 38.2 million beneficiaries who are now receiving prescription drug coverage, approximately 32.8 million have coverage from Medicare and 5.4 million have coverage from other sources, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), primary coverage from an employer (from beneficiaries who are working after age 65), and state prescription drug programs that are not yet combined with Medicare Part D. Based on the latest information on the choices of veterans with VA benefits and Medicare coverage, almost 40 percent are enrolled in Medicare Part D, a much larger number of VA beneficiaries than previously expected.Enrollment for the new Medicare prescription drug coverage began on November 15, 2005 and ended on May 15, 2006.