Coventry and Walgreens Join Forces to Educate Medicare Beneficiaries About Part D Prescription Drug Plan Options

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Coventry Health Care and preferred pharmacy provider Walgreens are coming together to educate Medicare beneficiaries about their prescription drug plan options for the 2013 plan year enrollment period, running now through Dec. 7, 2012.

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"Medicare beneficiaries have heard a lot of debate about the new health care law and its impact on their benefits during this year's election," said Matt Eyles, vice president of public affairs and policy at Coventry, which is offering its First Health Part D Value Plus Medicare prescription drug plan for the 2013 plan year. "It's important for beneficiaries to know that anyone who is eligible for Medicare continues to have the right to join a Medicare prescription drug plan to get help paying for prescription drug costs."

Medicare Part D is a federal program that offers prescription drug coverage to anyone with Medicare. Today, 32 million Medicare beneficiaries, more than half of those enrolled in Medicare, receive their prescription drug coverage through Part D.

"There are changes to Medicare each year and important information beneficiaries need to know, whether they're selecting a plan for the first time or evaluating if their current plan is still the best option," said Suzanne Hansen, Walgreens group vice president of pharmacy operations. "In Coventry's First Health Part D Value Plus plan, where Walgreens is a preferred network provider, we're able to offer a number of benefits including convenient access to pharmacy services and cost savings on prescription drugs.  With the Medicare population growing rapidly each day, more and more people 65 and older are seeking personalized care from our community pharmacists to help them get, stay and live well."

The following are key facts beneficiaries need to know about the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan:

• Anyone who is eligible for Medicare may join a Medicare prescription drug plan to get help paying for prescription drug costs.
• The health reform law calls for gradually lowering out-of-pocket costs when seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D reach the coverage gap, otherwise known as the "donut hole." 
• Beginning in 2011, enrollees who reached the gap began receiving a 50 percent manufacturer discount on the total cost of brand-name drugs and additional subsidies for generic medications. 
• Medicare will phase in additional subsidies for brand-name drugs beginning in 2013. 

Beneficiaries have until Dec. 7 to either sign up for or switch their Medicare prescription drug coverage, and with a number of prescription drug plans to choose from, this is the time for Medicare beneficiaries to identify the plan that best meets their prescription needs.  For more information about signing up or changing Medicare prescription drug coverage, beneficiaries should visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE before the deadline.

Walgreens also offers free, personalized Part D plan comparison reports to help beneficiaries identify the plan that best meets their prescription drug needs. Plan reviews, generated from Medicare's online plan finder, are available daily at all of the more than 8,000 Walgreens stores nationwide on a walk-in basis, or by scheduling an appointment at www.walgreens.com/medicare.

About First Health Part D Value Plus from Coventry
With its low premium, zero-dollar deductible and extensive preferred pharmacy network, Coventry's First Health Part D Value Plus is one of the leading options available to Medicare beneficiaries looking to enroll in a prescription drug plan through the Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE Plan Finder. 

Complete benefits and details for the First Health Part D Value Plus Plan (PDP) are included below:

• Average premium of $24.00 to $33.90 per month
• $0 annual deductible
• A Medicare preferred pharmacy network of nearly 17,000 locations, including Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Kroger and Kmart pharmacies*
• $0 co-pay on Tier 1 formulary prescriptions (Preferred  generics) at preferred pharmacies during the Part D initial coverage period; $7 co-pay on Tier 1 formulary prescriptions (Preferred generics) at other contracted pharmacies
• Lower co-pays on Tier 2 and Tier 3 formulary prescriptions when filled at preferred pharmacies
• 90-day supply of prescriptions available through retail pharmacies
• Where available, access to preferred value generics, which will help members who enter the coverage gap
• Vouchers mailed to enrolled First Health Part D Value Plus members for health and well-being products (e.g., multivitamins, calcium tablets) that can be redeemed at any preferred pharmacy.

A Medicare-approved Part D sponsor.  The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.  Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.  You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.  * Other Pharmacies are available in our network.  

About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America's first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 7,944 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

Y0022_PDP_2013_4030_1335 accepted 11/2012

Coventry Contact: Kristine Grow, 301-581-5729, [email protected]
Walgreens Contact: Jim Cohn, 847-315-2950, [email protected]

SOURCE Coventry Health Care, Inc.