Medicare’s Part D program is gaining momentum with several large for-profit health plans expanding on their plans to offer the program to seniors. Among the plans, Aetna, United Health Group, and Cigna are launching programs nationally, with Humana doing so in over 40 states.
According to the Detroit Free Press,
“Goldman Sachs projects that nearly 17.5 million seniors — about 41% of those eligible to participate — will enroll in the drug plan in 2006….Participating seniors will spend an average $792 for prescription drugs in 2006, excluding premiums, or 37% less than the $1,257 cost without the benefit, according to a July 2004 report by the Congressional Budget Office.”
That begs the question – why won’t the other 59% enroll? The reason is simple – their premiums will be higher than the anticipated costs. Thus, the seniors that will join up will be those who will financially benefit, and the ones who won’t see savings won’t enroll.
Doesn’t sound like a money maker for the PBMs, unless their losses are subsidized by Uncle Sam.
I still can’t figure out what makes this so attractive to private health plans.
Anyone?
Sep
8
I’ve written about this over at Signal Health http://www.signalhealth.com/node/429?PHPSESSID=c29b9e775e0e6ab2f017dd97f6c89e84
The reason Medicare D is attractive to business is because the legislation was written so they can’t lose money -it’s as simple as that!
Lin
Hey Joseph, check out http://www.partdandme.com
It’s Pacificare’s foray into the new Medicare benefit.