Sifting through dozens of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans can be overwhelming for Janet Asay as she tries to pick the best plan to cover her 10 prescription drugs on a shoestring budget. And her monthly social security check and minimum wage job don't leave much room for error.
''There are so many different plans, it can be so confusing,'' said Asay, 73, sitting in the living room of her Hollywood home. ``No matter what plan you go on, you have your advantages and your disadvantages.''
Like Asay, Florida seniors enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan will have a lot of sorting to do when the open enrollment period for 2008 begins Nov. 15. And with 58 plans to choose from, making the right choice can be difficult. But as the program enters its third year, healthcare advisors hope increased familiarity with the program and improved tools for evaluating the plans will help seniors find the best fit for next year.
''They know the questions they should be asking,'' said Kerry Weems, acting director for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. ``So not only will it become easier for them, it should become better for them as they pick the precise plan that's right for them.''
To make the choice easier, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have tried to make their online tools more user-friendly for the 43 million eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage. For example, the program's online evaluation tool will show seniors the top three plans based on their prescription drug needs, Weems said. It also will allow seniors to see if they can save money by switching to a similar name-brand drug.
And for the first time this year, seniors will be able to compare customer service reports for the different plans. For example, customers can find out how long callers were put on hold and how often calls were disconnected.
The number of Medicare plans in Florida has remained about the same this year. Monthly premiums in 2008 will range from $12.10 to $97.50, with the average premium being about $25.
Health advocates say that with a multitude of plans all with different premiums, medications, co-payments and fine print, finding the right choice still can be daunting, especially for seniors who don't have Internet access or aren't Web savvy.
''Our concern is the myriad plans that seniors are asked to wade through,'' said Andrew Leone, senior policy analyst with Florida Community Health Action Information Network.
''It's unrealistic,'' he added.
This year's open enrollment period starts Nov. 15 and continues through Dec. 31. But seniors who are considering a new plan should try to enroll by early December to process their applications and mail out insurance cards to avoid any hiccups in drug coverage.
Last year, when Asay switched plans and started receiving her prescription drugs through the mail, she says her first round of medication didn't arrive right way. And she spent several hours on the phone trying to get everything straightened out.
''It was very frustrating,'' she said. ``And I already have high blood pressure.''
Like last year, seniors also will need to watch out for the so-called ''doughnut hole,'' which refers to a point in the plan where drug coverage is suspended and seniors must pay full price for their medications until reaching a designated amount.
Health and drug plan providers should have already notified seniors how their plan is going to change in 2008. And seniors who are satisfied with their current plan won't need to take any action because they will be re-enrolled automatically.
But healthcare advocates say seniors should always take a close look at any potential changes to their current plan before they decide to keep it.
That's because even if the first two years went smoothly, healthcare advisors say it's never a good idea to assume this year's plan is the best choice for 2008.
Providers might be changing which medications or physicians they cover in 2008.
Seniors with some plans might be looking at a mid-year price jump, according to a recent survey by Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports.
And some seniors might find that it's less expensive to switch to a different plan.
Experts say seniors who are unsure what changes are being made should call the company that provides their plan.
''Don't ever assume whatever worked last year will work this year. Big mistake,'' said Edith Gooden-Thompson, a volunteer area coordinator with Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders in Broward County.
``It's a good thing to just look around and to see what's the best option out there.''
But Asay says, based on what she has found out so far, it looks like her current plan might mean the fewest headaches in 2008.
''After what I went through,'' Asay said, ``I don't want to change the plan unless someone can come up with a better plan than what I've got.''
