Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage For Dummies® Helps Consumers Navigate Part D and Make Smart Choices

Hoboken, NJ (PRWEB) October 6, 2008 -- As usual, Medicare's private prescription drug plans will change their benefits and costs for 2009. Once again, millions of Medicare beneficiaries will face the annual dilemma of deciding to stay with the plan they've got or switch to another when open enrollment begins on November 15. How will they find the best deal? This year, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage for Dummies® (http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/Medicare-Prescription-Drug-Coverage-For-Dummies.productCd-0470276762.html) (Wiley, October 2008, $19.99) comes to the rescue by guiding beneficiaries step-by-step through the often baffling maze of the Part D prescription drug program.

The first comprehensive consumer reference on Part D, this clear-cut guide explains the ins and outs of Medicare drug coverage in plain English and an easy-to-read format. It helps readers navigate the system so they can make decisions more easily and to their best advantage--whether they're already enrolled in the program, confronting Part D for the first time, or need to know how it affects their other drug coverage. Readers who act on tips from the book (especially the detailed instructions for comparing drug plans properly) can save themselves a lot of money.

In Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage For Dummies, Patricia Barry, a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin and an expert on Medicare Part D, explains to readers how to:

?    Choose a drug plan that's right for their health and pocketbooks

?    Deal with their plan's coverage restrictions on some drugs

?    Avoid or minimize the impact of the doughnut hole

?    Lower out-of-pocket expenses

?    Sidestep pitfalls and troubleshoot problems

?    Avoid scams and hard-sell marketing tactics

The book also helps Medicare beneficiaries save money and hassle in a variety of circumstances--having a limited income, living in a nursing home, using multiple meds or a few very expensive ones, and many more. It is a valuable resource not only for beneficiaries, but also for family members and consumer advisers who may be helping them sort through their Part D options.

Like all For Dummies® (http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/) titles, the book concludes with "The Part of Tens." This section offers ten ways baby boomers can help loved ones cope with Part D; and ten possible changes to Part D (simplifying plan choices, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, among others) that have been proposed. The handy "Cheat Sheet" at the front of the book lists quick facts about Part D, tips on finding the best deal among a multitude of plan options, and key sources for help.

About the Author:

Patricia Barry is a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin and a recognized expert on the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. She has written extensively for consumers on Part D, as well as thousands of articles on other topics and two former guidebooks relating to healthcare and social policy.

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage For Dummies®

By Patricia Barry

ISBN: 978-0-470-27676-1 / $19.99 U.S. / October 2008

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