People's Pharmacy

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New Medicare Drug Benefit Creates Confusion

Posting Date: 09/26/2005

If your doctor prescribes a medication that is not on your plan?s official list, you will have to contact the plan to ask for an ?exception.? If the plan says no, you are allowed to appeal the decision. (Good luck.)

Some plans may be very flexible in permitting people access to their prescribed medicines. Others may be bureaucratic and hard-nosed. You probably won?t know in advance which way your plan will be administered.

In theory, the government will help people sort through the confusion. It is preparing to roll out a Web site designed to compare various plans (www.medicare.gov). We?ll have to wait and see how easy it is to navigate. Those without access to the Internet can call 800-MEDICARE.

Of course, none of this will do you any good if you are not yet 65. If you are ineligible for the prescription drug plan but still struggling to pay for your pills, we have prepared a Guide to Saving Money on Medicine. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. CA-99, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

Millions of people are desperate for relief from high drug bills. The new Medicare plan may help, if they can figure out how to use it wisely.

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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org.