Check Out the Results of the Latest Senior Satisfaction Survey!

Published August 19, 2019August 19, 2019 by SSO

It’s that time of year—the results of the Senior Satisfaction Survey from our partners over at Medicare Today are in! Since 2007, researchers have surveyed seniors to measure our level of satisfaction with our Medicare Part D plans in order to take a critical look at the program and ensure that our needs are being addressed.

The purpose of the Senior Satisfaction Survey is to gauge the success of Medicare Part D, examine what aspects of the program are working, and take a look at what the program can be doing differently to achieve maximum success for American seniors. Each year, the survey has demonstrated that seniors are pleased with their Medicare Part D plans, including their coverage options and the prices they pay for their medications.

This year, nearly nine in 10 seniors report being satisfied with their Medicare Part D coverage. Some other key findings include:

93 percent of seniors say their prescription drug plans are convenient to use
86 percent of seniors report that their Part D plans work well
85 percent of seniors view their prescription drug plans as a good value that provide coverage at a fair price
81 percent of seniors are happy with their ability to compare prescription drugs covered under Part D and choose what best works for them
88 percent of seniors say that their Medicare Part D plans are delivering on their promises

These results are exceptional and demonstrate just how happy seniors are with the current state of their Medicare Part D coverage. Although some changes are being proposed to the program by the Administration and Congressional leadership, it is critical that seniors continue to advocate for ourselves by urging lawmakers to protect the integrity of Medicare Part D. We must also continue to push policymakers to support improvements that will strengthen affordable access to medications.

For more information and past survey results, please visit Medicare Today’s website at: www.medicaretoday.org, and share your thoughts with us on Twitter and Facebook today!

Tell Congress to Reject Cuts to Medicare Part D!

Published July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 by SSO

There is a rumored proposal in the works that could harm Medicare Part D and the seniors that rely on this critical program. This proposal would harm Medicare by applying a government-imposed inflation rebate on Part D medications that could negatively affect the program’s successful market-based structure.

By unnecessarily inserting government-imposed inflation rebates, this policy would violate the spirit of the non-interference clause, which has allowed competition between Part D plans to hold down costs and has been key to Part D’s success since its inception. This penalty could also raise premiums for beneficiaries, as this type of change has the potential to eliminate the privately negotiated price protection rebates that are currently used to subsidize premiums.

Not only would this type of proposal undermine the success of the Part D program, but it could also reduce the incentive for future innovation in health care. Inflicting such a policy on Part D medications could have the harmful consequence of discouraging future investment in medical research, harming beneficiaries, especially those with chronic or complex conditions who rely on the program to access new break-through cures.

There are numerous proposals that, if enacted, would serve to meet the needs of seniors. This is not one of them. It is critical that you act NOW to tell your Member of Congress that these cuts to Medicare through government-imposed inflation rebates are the wrong way to lower Part D costs. Join us TODAY in making our voices heard by clicking here!

Back to Basics: Medicare Part D

Published May 31, 2019 by SSO

It’s summer already, and the year seems to be flying by! Before we know it, the fall open enrollment period will be here for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit as well as Medicare Part C, better known as Medicare Advantage. It’s important that beneficiaries know about the Medicare program and how we can utilize its resources, particularly access to prescription drug coverage that comes through Medicare Part D as well as most Medicare Advantage plans. A great way to get an easy refresher on the Medicare program overall is by watching this short clip here, which provides a brief overview of these important benefits. Arming yourself with the most comprehensive knowledge about Medicare is critical, especially for those of you who are turning 65 this year, or have friends or relatives that are becoming eligible.

Today, let’s go back to basics with an easy primer on one of the parts of Medicare—Medicare Part D!

Medicare Part D is the part of Medicare that covers prescription medications. One thing that differentiates Part D from other parts of Medicare is that the program is optional. Beneficiaries are automatically enrolled in parts A and B of Medicare when they reach age 65, however, beneficiaries must choose to opt-in to the Medicare Part D program and are not automatically enrolled.

Unlike other parts of Medicare, which are administered by the federal government, Medicare Part D coverage is provided through private insurers. Under the program drug manufacturers and private plans negotiate drug prices directly, allowing for a wider variety of treatment options and medication choices for beneficiaries.

This unique structure allows for and encourages increased competition among insurers, which aids beneficiaries by allowing individuals to shop around for the best-tailored plan for their unique health care needs. You can watch a quick video about how this competitive structure drives down the overall cost of Medicare Part D plans here.

There are a variety of Medicare Part D plans to choose from, each with different prescription drug formularies, coverage options, and costs. An easy way to find a plan that works for you is to use this interactive tool, which can help provide easy access to information about uniquely-tailored plans that could work for you.

Open enrollment will be here before we know it, and it is imperative that beneficiaries are equipped with the information we need to make smart decisions for our health. Opting in to Medicare Part D is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so make sure you utilize these resources to keep up-to-speed on all things Part D!

May is Arthritis Awareness Month!

Published May 13, 2019 by SSO

Each May, we celebrate National Arthritis Awareness Month in honor of the more than 50 million Americans that are impacted by this disease. As seniors, is critical to be informed about the risk factors, causes, and treatment options available for those with arthritis. In fact, 1 in every 5 adults are impacted by arthritis in the U.S.—making it the number one cause of disability in the country.

Arthritis is not actually a single disease, but rather an umbrella term for the more than 100 different types of joint pain or joint disease. Arthritis affects individuals of all ages, races, and sexes, but is more common in women and occurs more frequently as people age. Common arthritis symptoms are swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion in joints, which can progress, stay the same, or feel better with time.

Although there are more than 100 types of arthritis and related joint conditions, the most common form is osteoarthritis—which occurs when cartilage wears away and causes bones to rub together. This often causes pain, swelling, and stiffness, and risk factors for developing the condition include family history, being overweight, previous injury, and aging.

Fortunately, mild or moderate symptoms of osteoarthritis and other common forms of arthritis can be alleviated by simple actions, such as regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, strengthening affected areas, and taking anti-inflammatory medications, which are often covered by Medicare Part D.

According to the CDC, walking is one of the easiest ways to improve arthritis symptoms while also keeping up with your overall fitness. That’s why it is important that this May, you take some time to get outside, take a walk, and keep yourself healthy! There are numerous opportunities to get involved with arthritis awareness and prevention efforts, including community walks, volunteering events, and fundraising efforts. There are constant scientific discoveries that help those living with arthritis, so this May, get involved with efforts to help expedite the process of finding a cure!

The Importance of Medicare Part D’s Non-Interference Clause

Published April 4, 2019 by SSO

We often stress the importance of being knowledgeable about Medicare in order to best advocate for our health care needs. That’s why it is important not only to know about the different parts of Medicare, but also be up-to-date on legislative provisions that could have an impact on critical aspects of this program.

Under Medicare Part D, which covers prescription medications, plans are offered by insurance companies, and seniors select the plans during open enrollment period each fall. Last year, 43 million of the 60 million people with Medicare were enrolled in Part D coverage, a testament to the immense value the program provides for patients.

Unfortunately, Medicare Part D is facing a serious threat that could undermine the competitive marketplace structure of the program that helps improve affordability and patient choice. This threat involves proposals that would repeal an important feature of Part D called the non-interference clause, which prevents the government from entering into the private market negotiations that drug manufacturers and insurance companies engage in to provide patients with a wide variety of coverage options. This clause protects seniors by encouraging competition between plans, ultimately leading to better access to crucial prescription drugs for seniors.

Medicare beneficiaries deserve to be able to select the plans that best address our health care needs. Because of the free-market principles that the non-interference clause relies on, beneficiaries are able to save money on their prescription medications because they are empowered to shop around for plans without government influence on prices or availability.

Recent proposals to repeal the non-interference clause are dangerous and harmful to seniors, and it is critical that we urge lawmakers not to repeal this important provision of Medicare Part D. As seniors, we have the collective voice to make a difference, and should feel empowered to advocate for our needs. We encourage you to share your thoughts with us on our Facebook and Twitter pages, and urge you to tell lawmakers not to repeal the non-interference clause!