A Medicare Part D Drug Exclusion for 2007

[Gary85741]

     My physician recently gave me an Rx for Levitra (Vardenafil HCl.)  It's one of the ED drugs.  Currently in the 'doughnut hole' for 2006, I was going to wait until January to fill it.  Those drugs are currently on the Part D formulary. 

     Meanwhile, however, I received my 2007 formulary for the list of covered drugs next year.  The ED drugs have been deleted.  "Due to a change in Medicare, beginning January 1, 2007, most Medicare Drug Plans, including ours [my insurance carrier] will no longer cover erectile dysfunction drugs, such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Caverject." 

     These medications are not cheap.  Levitra, for example, is about $10 per pill.  So the point of my post, really, is if you have or desire an Rx for one these drugs and are on Medicare, fill it by 12/31/06!

Gary

[SOLERELAXER]

The whole Medicare part D is a mess. I have four drugs that Medicare stopped covering unless I get a prior authorization. I'm waiting over a week now to get them approved. I was supposed to be called back by the carrier within twenty four hours and that was as of last Sunday. If I were still on Medicaid I would have no problems. It's not fair. I just feel bad about the people out there that are home bound and unable to help themselves. I was homebound once and it was hell.

[SOLERELAXER]

I'm frustrated. My doctor dropped out of Medicare because of all the prior approval that are now needed for so many drugs that were covered last year, but now need prior approvals. My doctor told me that he had over 2000 PA since January. I have a friend who's doctor dropped out also. It was much easier being on Medicaid than this Medicare.