SPECIALIZING IN HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS FALL 2006
YOUR NEWS TO USE     From Medicare "Part B" to "Part D" Medicare Premium Hike in '07 Go-ahead for Generic Zocor Generic of Plavix Blocked New Acronym Alert Thanks! From Medicare "Part B" to "Part D" Leave it to the government -- up and down with Medicare premiums! Yes, there will be an increase in Medicare Part B's. Well, there also is going to be a decrease in another type of Medicare premium next year. It's for "Part D", covering prescription drugs. The program's director, Dr. Mark McClellan, says the "vast majority" of beneficiaries can get Medicare drug plans with lower premiums, as well as reduced medication prices. McClellan credits competition among prescription drug plans. Some stipulations apply -- such as the open enrollment period from November 15 to December 31. R. Kashmiry and Associates can help you sort through them. Source: HealthDecisions.org Specializing in Health Insurance Benefits We believe all employers and employees ought to be able to get the same quality health care benefits and affordable rates available to big companies. R. Kashmiry & Associates, Inc. has the tools to do it. We've designed a framework of strength, flexibility and affordability that offers a real health care solution for small and large businesses. We are a complete employee benefit design company located in Boardman, Ohio. In addition to working with various state associations, we provide service to over 1,000 out of state clients.   If you have questions or comments, drop us an email, info@rkashmiry.com, or phone, 800. 860.6295. Visit our website at www.rkashmiry.com	Welcome! This is the premiere quarterly eNewsletter . from R. Kashmiry and Associates, your go-to health care insurance source. First editions are valuable and our goal is to be an important resource to you. We will provide beneficial and educational health-care related updates on a wide variety of subjects – from gaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to the latest on health care costs.   Medicare Premium Hike in '07 The new year will mean most of the 43-million Americans covered by Medicare will pay another $5.00 a month for their basic premiums, known as "Part B's". That's $93.50 a month -- an increase of 5.6%. But the premiums for more affluent beneficiaries will jump by as much as 83%. The reason -- the federal government for the first time will require wealthier people to pay a new surcharge, from $12.50 to $68.80, depending on their incomes. The premiums for Medicare's "Part B" cover doctors visits and outpatient hospital care. Source: Washington Post   Go-ahead for Generic Zocor A new generic drug is now available for people with high cholesterol – and it could mean a savings of hundreds of dollars a year. This summer, the Food and Drug Administration approved Simvastatin – a generic version of Zocor, one of the world’s best- selling, cholesterol-lowering drugs. According to Consumer Reports, the generic Simvastatin may result in a savings of as much as 18-hundred dollars a year for people who pay for their drugs out of pocket. Even those with prescription drug benefits could save $200-$300 a year in co-pays. Who should take Simvastatin? Consumer Reports advises people taking Zocor to talk with their doctors. However, some employees may find their health plans require them to try generics first, if they are available. Source: Consumer Reports and Free Press   Generic of Plavix Blocked The generic version of Plavix, the blockbuster anti-clotting drug , is blocked for distribution because of a patent challenge. A Manhattan federal judge ordered the Canadian company, Apotex, to stop distributing the generic Plavix, but no recall was ordered for the pills already on the market. The Plavix generic became available on August 8 – and the company estimates the generic drug's popularity already pushed the sales volume to more than the three-month forecast. The patent trial involving Plavix manufacturers, Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofil-Aventis, versus the generic distributor, Apotex, begins in January, 2007. R. Kashmiry and Associates will keep you up-to-date on this case. Source: NY Times   New Acronym Alert Consumer-Driven (or Directed) Health Plans, known as CDHP's, are being expanded in January, 2007 from just large corporations to individuals and small businesses The plans offer financial incentives for preventive care that can save customers several hundred dollars a year in reduced premiums, taxes, and direct incentive payments from the insurer. R. Kashmiry and Associates offers more details on our website, www.rkashmiry.com and/or the phone, 877.860.6295. Source: www.consumerdrivenhealthcare.us   Thanks! We hope we offered a few helpful tidbits today. Our goal is to say what we mean -- and mean what we say. If you have questions or comments, drop us an email, info@rkashmiry.com, or phone, 877.860.6295. Please feel free to forward this eNewsletter to anyone who might find it useful. Remember, it's all "Just For The Health Of It!"