| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
07 Dec 2003 01:46:34 PM |
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~ New Medicare Bill Bars Extra Insurance for Drugs ~ |
New Medicare Bill Bars Extra Insurance for Drugs
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: December 7, 2003
ASHINGTON, Dec. 6 — Medicare beneficiaries will not be allowed to buy
insurance to cover their share of prescription drug costs under the
new Medicare bill to be signed on Monday by President Bush, the
legislation says.
Millions of Medicare beneficiaries have bought private insurance to
fill gaps in Medicare. But a little-noticed provision of the
legislation prohibits the sale of any Medigap policy that would help
pay drug costs after Jan. 1, 2006, when the new Medicare drug benefit
becomes available.
This is one of many surprises awaiting beneficiaries, who will find
big gaps in the drug benefit and might want private insurance to plug
the holes — just as they buy insurance to supplement Medicare coverage
of doctors' services and hospital care.
- click for full story -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/07/politics/07MEDI.html?hp
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