The recently overhauled tool on Medicare.gov sorts drug plans by monthly premium — lowest premium on top. But that doesn't account for out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare’s revamped prescription plan finder can steer unwitting people to coverage that costs much more than they need to pay, according to program experts and people who help with signups.
“I want to make sure people are given the most accurate information and they’re making the best decision — because they are the ones stuck with it,” said Ann Kayrish, senior program manager for Medicare at the National Council on Aging, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for seniors and provides community services.Government programs mixing healthcare and technology have faced struggles.
The plan with the lowest premium now gets automatically placed on top, with the monthly premium displayed in large font.When out-of-pocket expenses such as copays are factored in, the plan with the lowest total annual cost is often not the first one shown by the plan finder.Medicare’s previous plan finder automatically sorted plans by total cost, not just premiums.
But the agency also said total cost paid out of pocket is equally or more important, particularly for people who take prescription drugs — as most seniors do. Medicare said it’s testing ways to encourage consumers to look at total costs, such as a pop-up.The agency said it chose to prominently display premiums because user testing showed that’s what consumers are familiar with. The total annual cost is included, but in smaller font.
A reporter’s sample search on a list of six medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes returned 29 plans in the Washington, D.C., area, topped by a lowest-premium option for $13.20 a month. Costs can vary so much because plans have different coverage designs and they don’t pay the same prices to drugmakers.
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