Medicare Part D reviewed in California

The US Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit for seniors is the object of a study by the Oakland-based think-tank, the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF). To date, more than 2.9 million residents of the largest US state in terms of population have enrolled in the federal program and the think-tank notes the availability of "numerous plan choices that vary by premium cost, plan structure and prescription drug coverage."

Although the CHCF finds that the Part D scheme is generally successful, with California having the highest proportion of the qualifying population participating in the drug benefit, the group notes that "many low-income beneficiaries eligible for a subsidy have not enrolled." One area of concern is the wide discrepancy in the proportion of seniors enrolled in different counties of the Pacific coastal state.

For two of the three classes of drug plans available under the Medicare program, the average number of drugs covered has risen and prices fallen.