DestinationRx Launches Medicare Part D Comparison Tool to Help Seniors During 2009 Medicare Open Enrollment Season

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Just in time for the Medicare enrollment season, DestinationRx, the free independent online resource that helps millions of consumers choose and use the health plan and medications that are best for them and their families, announces an easy-to-use Medicare Part D plan comparison tool available at www.destinationrx.com or plancompare.destinationrx.com. Open enrollment for Medicare begins November 15, 2008 and seniors have through December 31, 2008 to change plans.

“Many seniors do not realize that Medicare plans change every year and that they could save hundreds of dollars a year if they shop around,” said Michael Cho, President and CEO of DestinationRx. “With the economic realities squeezing budgets on necessities like prescription medications, this would be a very good time to match a Medicare Part D Drug plan with your medical and financial needs.”

DestinationRx’s Part D Plan Compare tool is designed to help seniors and the many adult children or caregivers who help guide the enrollment decision. They can:

• Save money by choosing a plan that meets their current needs
• Get detailed plan information to educate themselves about Part D options
• Determine which plans cover their drugs at the lowest price
• Find ways to avoid the coverage gap or “donut hole”
• Compare plans side-by-side to better understand the benefits and costs
• Apply online to a plan

Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) is offered by government-approved private insurance companies, and helps cover prescription drugs. This coverage is available as a stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) or is included in some Medicare Advantage plans (MAPD), which combine prescription drug benefits with other types of health care coverage. Costs vary by plan and can be estimated using DestinationRx Part D Plan Compare, a leading resource that does the math to estimate annual out of pocket costs for PDP and MAPD plans based on a senior’s medications and health condition versus only comparing premium prices.

“The average monthly premium for stand-alone Medicare prescription drug coverage will increase 24% next year to $37 per month or $444 per year. As a result, beneficiaries may want to consider MAPD plans or Medicare Advantage Plans that include drug coverage without a separate premium,” said Cho.

The company maintains full compliance with all government privacy mandates, including HIPAA, to maximize the security and safety of consumer’s medical and prescription information.

About DestinationRx

With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Baltimore, DestinationRx (www.destinationrxinc.com) lets consumers, for the first time, get the information they need to find direct comparisons on price, safety and therapeutic efficacy of drugs as well as drug and health plans.

Since 1999, the company provides the health care industry with the educational, strategic, and transaction-support tools necessary for their customers and patients to navigate today’s complex health care marketplace and make better health care decisions and purchases. As the first company to bring price transparency to the pharmaceutical industry, DestinationRx provides a service that enables greater choices for consumers, while helping to control costs for employers and health insurance providers.