Cancer News, Weekend Edition

Here’s what’s new in cancer news around the world.

They’re back!! Harry and Louise that is.

Check out the AP article and you can see Harry and Louise circa 1993/94 on You Tube here and now

Harry and Louise have returned to promote a new multi-million dollar ad campaign that will air on national television throughout the Democratic and Republican conventions. In light of ever increasing health care costs and increasing numbers of people without health insurance coverage, Harry and Louise will urge the next President and Congress to put health care at the top of the domestic agenda.

And more health care news…

Wall Street Journal Health Blog, August 22, 2008. Some Seniors Quit Taking Medicine When Medicare Doughnut Hole Hits. “Some 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries hit the so-called doughnut hole in drug coverage last year — and a sizable minority quit taking their medicine rather than pay full price out of pocket, a new report says.”

What is the Medicare doughnut hole?

A quick over view from the Medicare Part D . com

• According to the CMS Model Plan, the Donut Hole phase begins when the covered medication costs reach $2510. (some plans begin earlier than this point at perhaps $1,800)
• Please note, this $2510 is the total retail cost of the covered medications, not what you spend personally. As a Part D beneficiary, you will pay only a portion of the $2510.
• In the CMS model plan, a beneficiary; like yourself, pays the first $275 dollars as a deductible and then 25% of the next $2235, for a total out of pocket medication costs of $833.75 (excluding monthly plan premiums).
• The Medicare Part D plan pays the difference or $1676.25

Medicare Part D beneficiaries remain in the Donut Hole until their true out of pocket costs exceeds $4050. The $4050 does not include the portion of your prescription expenses paid by the insurance carrier or your monthly premiums.

After the Donut Hole, the Medicare Part D beneficiary enters into the last phase of the Medicare Part D program or Catastrophic Coverage. From this point on, the Medicare Part D beneficiary pays $2.25 per month for generics / $5.6 per month for name brand medications or 5% of the medication’s retail cost, whichever cost is higher.

10th Annual NOCC Philadelphia and PureOlogy Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer

Saturday, September 13, 2008, 8 am at Fairmount Park, Memorial Hall, Philadelphia, PA

Donations will help support programs year round by educating women, their families and medical professionals to recognize the “whispers” of early-stage ovarian cancer and by advocating improved early detection methods and treatment. Join the thousands of ovarian cancer survivors, their families and friends, medical professionals, members of the local media, businesses, and medical centers who are in support of this mission.

Join in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

Check out the Emma Bridgewater Mug at the Macmillan Online Shop!