Press Release

Burgess Will Help Seniors Check Prescription Drug Plan

It’s time for seniors over age 65 to check their Medicare prescription drug plan coverage to avoid costly increases in plan changes, says Roxanne Swanson, director of reimbursement at Burgess Health Center.

Last year experts learned that nearly 85 percent of people on prescription drug plans could save money by changing plans, according to Roxanne Swanson, Burgess director of reimbursement.

There are 48 Part D plans offered for 2009. To offer assistance, Burgess is helping seniors who want to compare their current plan to others that might cost less. The time period to change the Medicare Part D prescription plans is Nov.15 to Dec. 31.

Seniors should bring their costliest medications to the hospital patient financial services office for reference, Swanson says. Burgess personnel will open up the Medicare computer web site and enter a senior’s Medicare number and medication information. The senior will then receive a print-out with top low-cost choices to help them make a decision if they should change plans.

"As a community service, we can help seniors study their choices with a print-out,” said Swanson.

Information on 2009 drug plans can be found on the Medicare website, www.medicare.gov, according to Swanson. The site offers a Part D comparison tool that can list plans starting with those that have the lowest annual cost.

The comparison tool on the web site takes into account a person's medications and calculates the monthly and annual cost for every plan offered in Iowa, including Medicare Advantage plans that have drug coverage

Seniors or their children who have a computer can compare plans at home by logging onto the web site.

Swanson reminds seniors that Medicare now covers all or most of the cost of cholesterol tests, diabetes screenings, glaucoma eye screenings and a bone mass measurement for osteoporosis at various times along with mammography, pap tests, colorectal and prostate cancer screenings.

“We encourage seniors to take advantage of all the benefits,” Swanson says.

Persons interested in receiving computer print-outs about plan choices from Burgess should call the patient financial services office at 712-423-2311.