Medicare Reality Check
Christian Science Monitor
January 6, 2006
(CBS) It was a very tough week for low income seniors who were supposed to be covered by the new Medicare drug benefit.
“It’s not covered!”
Time after time seniors were told they indeed have insurance under the system, just not for the specific drugs they use, CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports.
“And this particular plan does not cover this drug,” pharmacist Michael Kim said.
“But I am disabled,” said Joyce Thomas.
Thomas has her new Medicare drug card. But payment was still refused.
Did they automatically enroll Thomas in the plan?
“Yes they did, yes they did,” Thomas said.
And does your new plan cover her drug?
“No it don’t,” she said.
This also happened to Doris Strong. And to Robert Elum.
“This plan doesn’t cover my prescription,” Elum said.
When we visited Grubbs pharmacy, two blocks from the U.S. Capitol, not one senior citizen we tracked had a prescription filled smoothly. The problem is that many low-income seniors who used to be on Medicaid got randomly switched to the new Medicare system — a system of private insurance companies that may or may not cover their drugs.
Pharmacist Michael Kim also blames was insurance company meltdowns that brought denial after denial.
“There are several companies that we tried calling and the message on their machine just says: we’re so overloaded, please call back at another time,” Kim said.
So if you’re a senior citizen having trouble with your prescriptions, the best thing you can do right now is come to the pharmacy prepared.
Here’s what to do. If you have your new Medicare card, be sure to bring it. If not, bring the letter that confirmed your coverage. If, like Joyce, your drugs aren’t covered, call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask the counselor to switch you to a better plan.
Medicare officials tell CBS News these are all first-week shakedown problems that should be solved soon.