(NAPSA}There could be good news for as manyashalfof the 37 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D scription drug plans: You’ve been paying too much. Why is that good news? Becausethereis still an opportunity to find cost savings that you may have missed. The Problem According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 42 million Americans are over 65 and most. of them are at risk for diabetes, high blood ssure and other conditions as they age. Manyof these older Americans are concerned about their health and their health care costs, a recent Walgreens survey found. More than a third of the Medicare Part D beneficiaries surveyed worry every day about their - scription drug costs and one in five say they've had to makesacrifices, such as delayingfilling a scription or skipping doses, to help manage medicationcosts. Few realize that copays for Part D scriptions can vary by pharmacy. And, some don’t know they can switch pharmacies at any time. ASolution The good newsis that Medicare Part D beneficiaries can save hun- dreds of dollars a year on - scription copay costs by using a ferred network pharmacy, if there’s one in their Part D plan. For example, Walgreens, which is in the network of all national Medicare scription drug plans A ferred network pharmacy could save you hundreds on copays. manyof the plans in which it’s a ferred pharmacy. Other Findings *The Medicare Part D beneficiaries surveyed take an average of eight scriptions a week. *Most seniors are trying to lower scription costs. Seven in 10 have switched to generic medications and 44 percent arefilling more 90-day scriptions in an effort to save. Only hospital/emergency room costs and caregiver/assisted living expenses are a greater con- cern for respondents than scription drugcosts. Saving at the Pharmacy There are three easy steps for Medicare Part D beneficiaries looking to save on scription drugcosts: 1. Fill your scriptions at a ferred pharmacy like Wal- greens to save on copays. 2.Ask your pharmacist if generic substitutions are avail- able. 3. Talk to your pharmacists about 90-dayfill options for main- and participates in the ferred tenance medications if your plan nificant savings on scription Talk to your pharmacistorvisit networksof four of the largest national Part D sponsors, offers sig- offers lower copays. Learn More copays over select pharmacies for walgreenscom/medicare.
