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Choices For Medicare, Drug Plans Expand

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By CAROL GENTRY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2007

TAMPA - Florida Medicare beneficiaries will have more choices than ever for 2008, according to information released late Thursday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The number of drug plans available in the state will be 58, just one more than last year. But the statewide list of Medicare Advantage plans, which replace traditional Medicare, stretched into the hundreds, with the number depending on location.

In Hillsborough County, beneficiaries will have a choice of 77 Medicare Advantage plans in addition to the 58 drug plans - a total of 135 choices.
Federal health officials celebrated the number of choices. But patient advocates expressed concern.

'There is no way a consumer faced with so dizzying an array of plans can make an informed choice,' said Bob Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center. He called on Congress to create standard categories to make comparisons possible.

Companies can begin marketing the plans Monday but cannot enroll customers until Nov. 15. Enrollment ends Dec. 31 for drug-only plans but extends until March 31 for the Medicare Advantage products, such as HMOs.

Some companies sponsor a large variety of replacement plans; Aetna, for example, offers eight in Hillsborough County. Humana offers seven.

Freedom Health Care, now in Pinellas County but moving to Tampa on Nov. 1, offers six Medicare Advantage plans. So does Universal Health Care, based in St. Petersburg. WellCare, in Tampa, will sell four.

Monthly premiums for the 58 drug-only plans available in Florida range from $12.10 to $97.50. Thirty-three have no deductible.

For information, go to www. cms.hhs.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Reporter Carol Gentry can be reached at cgentry@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7624.

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