Medicare Part D Benchmark Plans (Archive)

This section lists health plans providing Medicare Part D which are considered Medicare Part D Benchmark Plans for the applicable year.

l  Clients enrolled in a benchmark plan may or may not be receiving Extra Help. See Medicare Part D for more information on the Extra Help subsidy.

l  Determine if clients enrolled in a benchmark plan are receiving Extra Help.

l  Do not use the premium amount or cost-sharing amounts paid by Extra Help as a medical expense or Medicare premium deduction for a spenddown or LTC income calculation. See MA/GAMC and Medicare Part D for more information.

l  See Medicare Part D Cost-Sharing Amounts for information on the benchmark premium amount and other Part D cost-sharing amounts.

2009 Medicare Part D Benchmark Plans.

2008 Medicare Part D Benchmark Plans.

2008 Medicare Part D Benchmark Plans Not Available in 2009.

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2009 Medicare Part D Benchmark Plans

The following are the Medicare Part D benchmark plans for 2009:

l  Aetna Medicare Rx Essentials.

l  BCBS MedicareBlue Rx Option 1.

l  Community CCRx Basic.

l  First Health Part D-Premier.

l  HealthSpring Prescription Drug Plan.

l  Prescriba RX Bronze.

l  SilverScript Value.

l  Unicare MedicareRx Rewards Standard.

l  United Healthcare AARP Medicare Rx Saver.

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2008 Medicare Part D Benchmark Plans

The following are the Medicare Part D benchmark plans for 2008:

l  Aetna Medicare Rx Essentials.

l BCBS MedicareBlue Rx Option 1.

l  Community CCRx Basic.

l  Fox Value Plan.

l  Health Net Orange Option 1.

l  HealthSpring Prescription Drug Plan.

l  Humana PDP Standard.

l  Medco Medicare Prescription Plan - Value.

l  Prescription Pathway Bronze Plan.

l  RxAmerica Advantage Star Plan.

l  SilverScript.

l  Sterling Rx.

l  Unicare MedicareRx Rewards Standard.

l  Unicare MedicareRx Rewards Value.

l  United Healthcare AARP Medicare Rx Saver.

l  WellCare Classic.

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2008 Benchmark Plans Not Available in 2009

Some 2008 benchmark plans will not be benchmark plans in 2009. They include:

l  Fox Value Plan.

l  Health Net Orange Option 1.

 Humana PDP Standard.

l  Medco Medicare Prescription Plan - Value.

l  Prescription Pathway Bronze Plan.

l  RxAmerica Advantage Star Plan.

l  Sterling Rx.

l  Unicare MedicareRx Rewards Value.

l  WellCare Classic.

Some people enrolled in these plans may be required to pay a premium if they stay in the non-benchmark plan. The rules for which plans meet benchmark qualifications are established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). One factor is whether the Part D plan's premium is equal to or within a few dollars of the regional Extra Help subsidy amount.

Full-benefit dual eligibles who were randomly assigned and enrolled in a benchmark plan by CMS may be reassigned to a new randomly-chosen benchmark plan by CMS, if their plan is no longer a benchmark plan.

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