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New Option For Medicare Retirees
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Our Board recognizes that some of our retirees have greater needs for
prescription meds than others. Accordingly, effective January 1, 2006 our
Medicare retirees have the option of staying with our plan including pharmacy
(currently priced at $147/mo) or downgrading to our basic no-drug plan
(currently priced at $102/mo). New retirees eligible for Medicare will have the
one-time option of enrolling in either plan. This will give them the flexibility
of using their monthly savings to purchase a commercial Medicare Part D plan for
their pharmaceutical needs. Those retirees choosing our basic plan without
pharmacy will not be allowed to upgrade to the plan having that benefit.
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Disaster
Preparedness Kit
The Wabash Clinic LPNs recently attended a series of classes focusing on
senior care and gleaned the following information that can benefit all our
members - not just our senior members. To be prepared for a disaster or
unforeseen event, it is recommended to have a kit with the following items
included: An extra pair of glasses and hearing aids; ID bracelet; list of
medications, diseases and written prescriptions for medications; one to three
week medicine supply (change periodically); FEMA's "Are You Ready" booklet;
family pictures; bottled water; emergency numbers (local and out-of-area); pet
evacuation plan.
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 The Wabash
Administrator met with Nickle Plate engineers (left to right in photo above) Mr.
Rodney Cutlip, Mr. Cole Davis and Mr. Chris Denoyer in Chicago on March 12,
2005.
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A draft handbook that is being
prepared by the Federal Government
to entice Medicare-eligible people into
their senior drug plan may be misleading and
confusing according to some healthcare experts.
1. The initial draft totally omits the coverage lapse called the 'doughnut
hole', i.e., that $2,800 gap in coverage during which the enrollee receives
nothing (but still pays his/her monthly fee).
2. It may not explain that most qualifying Medicare drug plans will limit your
choice and be selective on which medications they will cover. A Kaiser analysis
estimates that possibly 7.4 million enrollees will pay out more under the
Government Plan than they would without it.
3. An actuary's evaluation of the Medicare benefit's cost shows it to be about
40% more costly than similar (or better) drug programs currently available in
the private sector (remember that the Government is not allowed to negotiate
prices). Many who are eligible for the Government Plan may be better off staying
where they are or with an aggressive discount card program (such as the one our
Wabash members receive free through EHO). Unless the Federal program is changed
substantially between now and January of 2006, many well-informed Medicare-eligibles
are expected to boycott the program.
Allow Extra Time On Canadian Drugs
Opponents of imported drug programs continue to thwart our efforts to provide
low-cost brand prescriptions from Canada. Shipments are sometimes stopped at the
border and returned to Expedite-Rx. Drugs such as Lipitor are often in short
supply and have to be back-ordered through Israel, Australia or Great Britain.
If you experience delays, you're encouraged to call Bob at 1-800-650-1817 to get
the status of your shipment. Please allow at least thirty days for delivery. If
you run out of your medication before receiving your new supply, Bob can arrange
for you to get enough locally until you receive the full shipment. Seniors
should note that discounts achieved through our Canada connection with our EHO
free discount card may provide you more savings than you'll be able to realize
through the higher cost Federal Medicare Part D Drug Plan.
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