Table of Contents
NEW YORK — Chain drug retailers across the country are carrying out extensive outreach programs to provide consumers with access to information and resources for Medicare Part D and health insurance marketplace coverage options.
Medicare Part D annual enrollment began October 15 and runs through December 7. The enrollment period for Marketplace plans is November 1, 2015, to January 31, 2016.
For example, CVS/pharmacy’s enhanced Health Insurance Information Center (www.cvs.com/healthinsurance, or in Spanish at www.cvs.com/segurodesalud) is described as a one-stop online destination for customers with health insurance questions related to Medicare Part D, Marketplace and Medicaid health coverage. On the website, consumers can easily find information about Medicare Part D coverage options, determine their eligibility, and find and compare Part D plans.
They can also use the Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator on the website to get an estimate of their eligibility for subsidies and how much they could spend on health insurance in the Marketplace.
“Ensuring that consumers can easily access information to help them make choices about health insurance coverage that is right for their individual needs is part of our purpose of helping people on their path to better health,” said Josh Flum, executive vice president of pharmacy services at CVS Health.
CVS/pharmacy will offer convenient access to local and national health insurance plan materials in both English and Spanish in over 7,500 locations nationwide.
Free drug plan guidance for senior citizens is also offered by Hy-Vee Inc. as the Iowa-based retailer leverages its iMedicare software application to allow patients to better navigate their way through the maze of health care options.
Hy-Vee pharmacists are using iMedicare, a Web and mobile platform, to identify Part D plans specific to each patient and therapeutically equivalent alternatives that are covered by the patient’s insurance plan.
“We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with iMedicare,” comments Bob Egeland, Hy-Vee’s vice president of pharmacy. “We’re committed to putting our customers’ needs first.”
Similarly, Rite Aid pharmacies nationwide are providing free resources to help their senior customers select the right prescription drug plan (PDP) or update their existing coverage during the annual Medicare Part D enrollment period. Customers can use Rite Aid’s Medicare Advisor to request the three lowest-cost prescription drug plans based on current prescriptions filled at Rite Aid.
Rite Aid’s Medicare Advisor is available at any Rite Aid pharmacy and can also be accessed online at www.riteaid.com/medicareadvisor.
“As a retail health care company, Rite Aid is committed to providing its customers with the resources they need to help them reach their goal of leading healthier lives,” said Jocelyn Konrad, executive vice president of pharmacy at Rite Aid. “The Medicare Part D enrollment period is the perfect time for our patients to speak with our pharmacists about the tools we offer, including Medicare Advisor, which can help them select the drug plan to best fit their prescription needs.”
