Number: RL31525
Title: Beneficiary Cost-Sharing Under the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Authors: Chris L. Peterson and Jim S. Hahn, Domestic Social Policy Division 
Abstract: On December 8, 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003" was signed into law (H.R. 1, P.L. 108-173). The law adds Part D to Medicare, which establishes a new voluntary prescription drug benefit that begins in 2006. This report analyzes how the cost-sharing and premium provisions under Part D would affect the amount that a beneficiary would pay annually for prescription drugs.1 In addition, this report gives examples of how annual cost-sharing would differ for beneficiaries with various levels of total prescription drug spending in 2006 under the plans standard benefit.
Pages: 17
Date: January 20, 2005