Health Affairs, 25, no. 4 (2006): w252-w261 (Published online 23 May 2006) doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.25.w252 © 2006 by Project HOPE	New Online   How Would Obama, McCain Cover The Uninsured?   Debating Cost Of Uninsured   Try Medicare-For-All   HA Blog Top 10

This Article Full Text (HTML) Reprint (PDF) Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to Citation Manager Reprints & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Frakt, A. B. Articles by Pizer, S. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Frakt, A. B. Articles by Pizer, S. D. Related Collections Insurance Market Access To Care Business Of Health Consumer Issues Elderly Health Reform Managed Care - Medicare Medicare Pharmaceuticals Health Spending

Web Exclusives

MARKETWATCH

A First Look At The New Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

Medicare began offering an outpatient prescription drug benefit through private plans in January 2006. Using nationwide data, we examine the availability, costs, and benefits of regional and local plans offering these benefits to beneficiaries. Because they are an entirely new concept for Medicare, we focus on stand-alone prescription drug plans, comparing them with other Medicare health plans offering drug coverage. The infamous "doughnut hole" exists for all but a few of these plans. One national stand-alone drug plan, though, covers brand-name drugs with no gap. Variations in cost sharing and formularies provide beneficiaries with choices as well as complexity.

                      What's this?