Posted At Pharmalive.com

BY : Phil Blando

Licensed Canadian mail-order pharmacies like The Canadian Pharmacy (www.thecanadianpharmacy.com) are not only open for business but actively counseling U.S. seniors on Canadian drug savings vs. Medicare D plans. Personal prescription evaluations yield the best strategy to help seniors make a smart, informed decision.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, December 22, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- It's no secret that the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program leaves a lot to be desired for American seniors. For 6 years, Canadian pharmacies have been a safety-net for American patients who struggle to afford their prescription medications. And now reputable pharmacies like The Canadian Pharmacy (www.TheCanadianPharmacy.com) are taking this vital service to the next level by offering free Medicare D consultations. This unique service will analyze and compare the annual costs between Medicare D and drugs from Canada.

The results are impressive: based on an internal study, 90% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries spending less than $ 7000 per year in retail drug expenses will benefit more financially by ordering their drugs from Canada than through Medicare D. In general, Canadian savings range from 40-70% vs. retail U.S. drug prices.

"As a first step, we encourage all eligible Medicare beneficiaries to call our pharmacy toll free at 1-866-335-8064 for a personal evaluation to determine which program is in their best interest," says David Zimmer, Director of Business Development for The Canadian Pharmacy. "Then patients simply need to inform us of what medications they've been prescribed, dosage and frequency of use. In some cases, a combination of Medicare D and medications from Canada may be the optimal strategy. Our pharmacy has the capability of objectively summarizing annual costs for both programs, including the variations of each private plan. Our patients find it invaluable."

Many seniors are discovering that ordering from Canada opens up a host of new healthcare options. Some prefer Canada as a solution in itself because of superior savings. Others opt for Canadian drugs as a way to cover the gaps in the Medicare program.

Seniors who do enroll in Medicare D can turn to Canada whenever they face paying full price for a drug out-of-pocket. Such occasions will be frequent considering drug coverage may be limited under a plan's formulary, and the complete absence of coverage in the infamous "donut hole."

"Every evaluation is unique but in the vast majority of cases our pharmacy is able to recommend a strategy that is preferable to Medicare D alone. The Canadian Pharmacy prides itself on offering prompt and courteous service, personalized to each patient."

The Canadian Pharmacy (www.TheCanadianPharmacy.com) is a provincially licensed pharmacy dispensing Health Canada approved medications (Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association IPS license # 32588). All orders are dispensed by licensed pharmacists. The pharmacy can be reached toll free at 1-866-335-8064.