For a 72-year-old man, Dick Miller, of Pittsburgh, Pa., is in incredible health, only having to endure minor bouts of arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome. His wife Lillian, however, is not as fortunate. She suffers from Sjogren's syndrome, a disorder that causes heart arrhythmias, ulcers and stricture of the esophagus, among other complications. She also suffers from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arthritis, dry eye syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and dental problems caused by a dry mouth.
With her illnesses, the Millers paid a grand total of $11,500 for their prescription drugs in 2005. So when Medicare announced it would start offering prescription drug insurance in 2006, Dick Miller took notice. Shortly after the announcement of Medicare's new drug plan, he started gathering information from every source he and his wife could find.
"I called 1-800-MEDICARE frequently and found it very helpful," said Dick Miller. "I also accessed the medicare.gov Web site to obtain information about the different plans, which was a great resource." Initially, after Mr. Miller gathered all of the necessary information for the couple's medications, he found that he needed to do a little more work to find a plan that was best for his wife and him. So they decided to compare each plan side by side, which enabled them to make a wise decision about the plan that best fit their needs.
"After reviewing the choices and discussing my options with my family, I decided to enroll the two of us in a Part D drug plan that provided us with good coverage," said Miller. Once enrolled, the Millers experienced instant savings. Their combined monthly premium decreased $49, or $588 a year. For the 2006 calendar year, if the Millers prescription needs remain about the same, their savings will amount to nearly $3,000.
The Millers have discussed the program with family members and friends, and, with one exception, all have enrolled in the new drug program. "We're happy with the coverage we've received so far and look forward to remaining in the program next year," said Miller. "The new drug benefit is a huge step forward in providing seniors with better health care and has made an enormous difference to my wife and me."
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