With seniors having to weigh more than 40 different options for enrolling in Medicare Part D in some regions of the country, it’s little wonder that the drug program has been criticized for its complexity. In an effort to simplify Medicare Part D, CMS is asking insurers, employers, and other administrators of the drug program to respond to a proposal to limit each insurer to two Medicare Part D plans per region, instead of the typical three, and to make the options distinctly different from each other, reports an AP story. Although CMS claims competition among insurers led to a recent premium cut for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, advocacy groups such as Families USA say reducing the plan options slightly won’t end the confusion and will continue to dilute insurers’ bargaining power with drug companies.
