WV Attorney General announces LCD screen price-fixing settlement

If you purchased a device with an LCD screen (a TV, computer monitor, laptop computer) between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2006, you might be entitled to some refund from a settlement.

McGraw and several state attorneys general settled price-fixing lawsuits against ten LCD panel manufacturers, including Hitachi, LG Display, Samsung Electronics Co., and Sharp Corporation, for fixing the prices of LCD panels. As part of those settlements, the companies paid more than $1 billion in civil penalties and restitution to purchasers. West Virginians have until December 6, 2012 to file claims for the LCD screens they purchased between 1999 and 2006. Claims can be filed at www.LCDclass.com through an online claim form. Consumers can also request a claim form be mailed to them by calling 1-855-225-1886 or 1-800-368-8808.

In order to be eligible, consumers (1) need to have resided in West Virginia when they purchased the LCD product; (2) made their purchases in West Virginia between 1999 and 2006; and (3) made their purchases for personal use rather than for resale.

Purchases may have been made from a retailer, like Best Buy or Wal-Mart, or from a computer manufacturer, such as Dell or Gateway. Consumers will not be asked to submit their records or other paperwork in making their claims, but should hold on to those in case they are asked to provide them in the future.

McGraw said his office, along with seven other state attorneys general and the federal government, had been investigating the industry for several years. He said the investigation uncovered evidence of a high-level conspiracy involving secret meetings in which the companies’ executives agreed to raise prices for their LCD screens. The settlements were joined by the states of Arkansas, California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New York and Wisconsin, along with a national class action.

average Medicare Prescription Drug premiums remain steady for 2013

Average basic premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans are projected to remain constant in 2013, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced today. The average 2013 monthly premium for basic prescription drug coverage is expected to be $30. Average premiums for 2012 were projected to be $30 and ultimately averaged $29.67. At the same time, since the law was enacted, seniors and people with disabilities have saved $3.9 billion on prescription drugs as the Affordable Care Act began closing the “donut hole” coverage gap.

“Premiums are holding steady and, thanks to the health care law, millions of people with Medicare are saving an average of over $600 each year on their prescription drugs,” said Secretary Sebelius.

Today’s projection for the average premium for 2013 is based on bids submitted by drug and health plans for basic coverage during the 2013 benefit year, and calculated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary.

The upcoming annual enrollment period -- which begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7, 2012 – allows people with Medicare, their families and their caregivers to choose their plans for next year by comparing their current coverage and quality ratings to other plan offerings. New benefit choices are effective Jan. 1, 2013.

As a result of the Affordable Care Act, coverage for both brand name and generic drugs in the coverage gap will continue to increase over time until 2020, when the donut hole will be fully closed. This year, people with Medicare received a 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs and 14 percent coverage of generic drugs in the donut hole. In 2013, Medicare Part D’s coverage of brand name drugs will begin to increase, meaning that people with Medicare will receive a total of 52.5 percent off the cost of brand name drugs (a 50 percent discount and an additional 2.5 percent in coverage) and coverage for 21 percent of the cost of generic drugs in the donut hole.

For more information on how the Affordable Care Act closes the Medicare drug benefit donut hole, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/drug-discounts/index.html

Also the regional low-income premium subsidy amounts have been released for 2013. The low-income subsity (LIS) premium subsidy amount for WV is $36.57. This means beneficiaries who are eligible for LIS/Medicaid would need to enroll into a BASIC plan with a premium below this amount in order to not pay a premium (depending on their LIS level). There is a $2 de minimis, meaning that a prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan with Prescription Drug Coverage may volunteer to waive the portion of the monthly adjusted basic beneficiary premium amount above the LIS benchmark for a subsidy eligible individual. Last year (for 2012), all plans agreed to do this. So technically, basic plan premiums in WV can be up to $38.57 as long as the plan agrees.