Medicare Part D Plan Mergers and Changes - PacifiCare / United HealthCare and AARP Plans

Changes with PacifiCare – United HealthCare – AARP Medicare Part D plans

As reported by the Los Angeles Times, there will be changes in the United HealthCare, PacificCare, and AARP plans. The Times reports that about 200,000 [Dual-Eligible Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries] currently enrolled in the PacifiCare, UnitedHealth and AARP plans will be transferred to the 2007 AARP MedicareRX Plan Saver (Alonso-Zaldivar, Los Angeles Times, 10/12).

The merger affects more than just Dual-Eligible beneficiaries.

According to the information provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in 2007 PacifiCare PDP plans will be merged or "crosswalked" into AARP / United Healthcare plans and regular United HealthCare plans - an example of the merger or crosswalk results for Florida are:

2006 PacifiCare Saver ($19.02 in 2006) is now UnitedHealth Rx Basic with a monthly premium of $29.30
2006 PacifiCare Select ($32.35 in 2006) is now AARP Medicare Rx Plan Saver with a monthly premium of $12.30
2006 PacifiCare Comprehensive ($36.60 in 2006) is now AARP Medicare Rx Plan Enhanced with a monthly premium of $45.60
2006 AARP Plan ($26.68 in 2006) remains AARPMedicare Rx Plan with a monthly premium of $27.60
2006 United HealthCare ($29.33 in 2006) remains UnitedHealth Rx Extended with a monthly premium of $42.00

So, after the merger, the resulting 2007 Florida Medicare Part D plans are:

UnitedHealth Rx Basic at $29.30
UnitedHealth Rx Extended at $42.00
AARP Medicare Rx Plan Saver at $12.30
AARP Medicare Rx Plan at $27.60
AARP Medicare Rx Plan Enhanced at $45.60