Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
Medicare Part D is the prescription drug coverage available to Medicare patients.
Part D covers both brand-name and generic prescriptions. Medicare patients pay monthly
premiums and have deductibles and co-pays—similar to people who have commercial
or private insurance.
To learn more about prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D or to compare
plans in your area, visit
www.Medicare.gov.
The Part D “Donut Hole”
In 2010, the standard Medicare Part D benefit plan covers the first $2830 of prescription
drug costs (calculated based on what your plan pays for the drugs, your co-pays,
and your deductibles). Above $2830, you pay all prescription costs until your out-of-pocket
payments reach $4550. Above $4550, catastrophic coverage activates.
The no-coverage gap, when you must pay for all prescription drug costs, is commonly
called the “donut hole.” Your eye doctor can help keep you out of the donut hole
by prescribing formulary drugs that have lower costs. (Note: Medicare initial coverage
limits and donut hole out-of-pocket costs are updated every year.)
Can you avoid the donut hole?
Talk to your eye doctor about your options based on which drugs are “preferred”
by your Medicare Part D plan. You can research this information by visiting a Web
site that allows you to determine formulary drug status for insurance plans in your
area.
LUMIGAN® 0.01% and 0.03% (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) is used
for the treatment of high eye pressure, also called intraocular pressure (IOP),
in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Important Safety Information
LUMIGAN® 0.01% and 0.03% (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) has been
reported to cause darkening (pigmentation) of eye color, eyelid skin, and eyelashes
as well as increased growth of eyelashes. Pigmentation changes can increase as long
as LUMIGAN® 0.01% and 0.03% is used. After stopping LUMIGAN®
0.01% and 0.03%, darkening of eye color is likely to be permanent, while darkening
of the eyelid skin and eyelash changes may be reversible. The effects of increased
darkening beyond 5 years are not known.
When only one eye is treated, there is a possibility of eyelash changes in the eye
treated with LUMIGAN® 0.01% and 0.03%. These changes may result in
differences between the eyes in eyelash length, thickness, darkness, number of eyelashes,
and/or direction of eyelash growth. These changes are usually reversible upon stopping
LUMIGAN® 0.01% and 0.03% therapy.
Avoid allowing the tip of the dispensing bottle to touch the eye, anything around
the eye, fingers, or any other surface in order to avoid contamination by common
bacteria known to cause eye infections. Serious damage to the eye and loss of vision
may result from using contaminated solutions.
If you have eye surgery or develop any eye reactions (such as trauma or infection),
immediately consult with your physician about continuing the use of LUMIGAN®
0.01% and 0.03%.
If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using LUMIGAN® 0.01%
and 0.03%. Then wait 15 minutes after using LUMIGAN® 0.01% and 0.03%
before you put your contacts back into your eyes.
The most common side effects are eye redness, growth of eyelashes, and itchy eyes.
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