Press Releases

General Satisfaction With Plan Benefits Found Among Patients Navigating Medicare Part D, According to Study by GfK Market Measures

Research also indicates less confusion about Part D since its debut, but reveals more education needed for patients to understand gaps in coverage, co-pays, deductibles and plan alternatives

EAST HANOVER, NJ, June 21, 2007 — Patients participating in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage are, in general, satisfied with their current plan benefits. Research from GfK Market Measures’ Outlook 360: The Impact of Medicare Part D on Patients reveals that patients find obtaining their prescriptions is now fairly easy and that participating in a Part D plan is helping them afford their medications.

Results from the study show that the reputation of the health plan, including whether a physician or pharmacist recommended it, the number of medications a patient takes that are covered by the plan, the monthly premium and co-pay amounts are the top priorities in patient selection and satisfaction with a Part D plan.

Although there is less confusion among patients about the Medicare Part D benefit as a whole since its debut in 2005, there are still some important areas where further education is needed. Specifically, patients participating in GfK Market Measures’ research indicated that information needs remain high regarding the coverage gap, or “doughnut hole,” co-pay amounts, deductibles, plan alternatives and monthly premiums.

In particular the coverage gap continues to be one of the most contentious issues with patients. Roughly 20 percent of patients enrolled in a Part D plan prior to November 2006 reached a gap in their prescription drug coverage. To manage through it, approximately 51 percent of patients either switched to a generic product or asked their physician for samples upon reaching the gap, the research found. As an alternate means to deal with a gap in coverage, 21 percent of patients indicated they used their medications less often than prescribed; only 7 percent indicated they stopped taking their medications altogether.

“The dust may have settled a bit since Medicare Part D’s debut over a year and a half ago, but that doesn’t mean pharmaceutical manufacturers can be complacent about it,” cautioned Sue Ramspacher, Senior Vice President and Leader of GfK Market Measures’ Managed Care Practice. “Patients remain uncertain about a number of key facets of Part D and are increasingly turning to pharmacists and physicians for information and counsel. As we look forward to the next enrollment period and beyond, it will be paramount for pharmaceutical marketers to understand all of their customers – individually as well as collectively – and appreciate the three-pronged, patient-plus-physician-plus-pharmacist equation and the interrelated nature of Part D decision making.”

1,650 Medicare Stakeholders Share Their Insights

Reflecting insights from 1,650 key Medicare Part D stakeholders, including patients, physicians, pharmacists and managed care decision makers, GfK Market Measures’ Outlook 360: Impact of Medicare Part D research program provides an individual as well as integrated perspective of the Medicare Part D environment.

This particular module focused on the patient perspective and was based on telephone interviews with 750 Medicare Part D participants, conducted in March 2007. The balance of the stakeholder groups will be researched over the summer and individual results will be released accordingly, culminating in the integration and release of a comprehensive cross-stakeholder research report in October 2007.

About GfK Market Measures

GfK Market Measures provides healthcare clients with a unique mix of custom and syndicated solutions to support the full marketing continuum, including market assessment, brand tracking, sales force effectiveness, healthcare consumer and product launch applications. GfK Market Measures is a member of the GfK U.S. Healthcare Companies, the largest provider of custom healthcare marketing research services in the United States. For further information please visit www.gfkmarketmeasures.com.

For more details on this study or to schedule an interview with a GfK Market Measures executive, please contact Jessica Makovsky, Group Vice President of Communications, GfK U.S. Healthcare Companies, at 215.283.3200 x372 or jmakovsky@gfkushc.com.