November 26, 2008-Dickinson Press
Sec. Leavitt picthes ‘Plan D’ shopping
Janell Cole
The Dickinson Press - 11/26/2008 BISMARCK — Some of the Medicare prescription drug plans sold in North Dakota and South Dakota have seen bigger increases in premiums than elsewhere in the country, the U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services said in North Dakota Tuesday.
That’s why Secretary Mike Leavitt visited a long term care facility in Bismarck as part of a nationwide tour during the annual sign-up period for Medicare Part D plans. He urged residents at The Terrace and other North Dakota seniors to shop around for a new plan if they are unhappy with their current plan, if their premium has gone up or if they just want to compare plans to see if they can get a better deal.
Nationwide, he said, about 85 percent of seniors on Part D are happy with their plans.
He said 48 companies sell Medicare Part D plans in North Dakota.
“Some of the plans that have been prominent here have had significant rate increases and I just want to tell people they don’t have to stay with a plan that isn’t good for them,” he said. “If the price has gone up and it’s too expensive, they’re not happy with it, whatever, they don’t have to pay it. Because that’s what’s going to drive the cost down, when consumers start saying, ‘that’s too much money,’ and competition will drive the cost down.”
Leavitt said the Part D program is important for the country’s efforts to keep medical costs down because prescription drugs can be part of “preventing illness, not just paying for it after it happens.”
North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm said his office is in the midst of holding day-long sessions in 10 cities during the November and December sign-up period. Seniors can come to the sessions and sit down with volunteers from the Senior Health Insurance Counseling program and get help comparing plans.
He said there are six sessions left. All are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- Fargo, Ramada Plaza Suites, Dec. 1
- Wahpeton, North Dakota State College of Science, Dec. 2
- Valley City Senior Center, Dec. 4
- Jamestown, Gladstone Inn, Dec. 9
- Grand Forks, C’mon Inn, Dec. 16,
- Devils Lake, Lake Region State College, Dec. 17