Here is a path to some on-line calculators that may help you.
>> medicare.cov
>>>Medicare Prescription Drug Plans - 2009 Plan Data (link)
>>>>Find & Compare plans (button)
>>>>>Begin Search (whichever search fits your situation. I am not on medicare, therefore I took the 'Begin General Search' button)
>>>>>>Fill in the blanks, hit 'Continue' button
>>>>>>>Click 'Continue' again (at least on the path I took)
>>>>>>>>click 'Enter My Drugs' button
>>>>>>>>>type 'Gleevec' in the box, click 'Search for Drug' button
>>>>>>>>>>Select Gleevec from the list of drugs, click 'Add Selected to Your Drug List'
>>>>>>>>>>>You can enter more drugs, but it really won't make any difference because you are going to max out the plan. Click 'Continue' button lower on the page
>>>>>>>>>>>>>A couple more 'continues', a 'Skip this step' if you don't want to save your drug list,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>'No' for don't bother with favorite pharmacies (or yes if it is a big deal)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> And Finally!! A list of Plans in your area, sorted by Annual Cost. For my area, the least expensive plan is $6567 per year, the most expensive is $7569
The first dozen are within about $200.
I know ziltch about this system, other than it is similar to the high deductible plan that I have at work. The first two months burn through the co-pays, and from then on you just pickup your prescriptions and sign for it. From a budget point of view it means that you need to have the dollars available at the beginning of the year.
If someone knows more about these plans, please let us know. This calculator seems to show that there can be a cap amount that we need to co-pay.
There must be money selling these plans, dispite all the howling to the contrary, because there are a huge number of look-alike websites all hawking plans of sometype. I would stick to the .gov site to get some idea which plans should be considered.
There is also some articles on the AARP.org website, there may be some good info there as well.
