Guest guest Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I've been trying to figure out Medicare Plan D with 0 success. The site provides a link for screen readers, but I find reading the tabular data all but impossible nonetheless. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they really wanted to make the site helpful, but I find many of the links ambiguous. Apparently they have no clue that many of us get prescription drugs via medical assistance programs and I was getting tired of reading how my drug costs might be cut in half. If what I came up with when my wife and I were on the site the other night is true, I'll be paying hundreds of dollars more. If anyone has any suggestions on helping me make sense of this screw ball program I'd be most grateful. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 You can switch plans once a year. Re: Medicare Plan D So, they can change the program just like that? How often can one switch plans? Dave Medicare Plan D > > >> I've been trying to figure out Medicare Plan D with 0 success. The site >> provides a link for screen readers, but I find reading the tabular data >> all but impossible nonetheless. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt >> and believe they really wanted to make the site helpful, but I find many >> of the links ambiguous. Apparently they have no clue that many of us get >> prescription drugs via medical assistance programs and I was getting >> tired > >> of reading how my drug costs might be cut in half. If what I came up >> with > >> when my wife and I were on the site the other night is true, I'll be >> paying hundreds of dollars more. If anyone has any suggestions on >> helping > >> me make sense of this screw ball program I'd be most grateful. >> >> Dave >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Good going, marvin! California has 86 plans that people can chose from-can you imagine the confusion! Re: Medicare Plan D I will give you my understanding of this program. I personally did not sign up for a Part D plan as I receive prescription drugs through my employer's retirement plan. My mother, however, did not receive prescription plan coverage through any other plan. Accordingly, my sister and I signed her up for a Medicare Part D plan. I was unable to navigate the site. My sister, who is not blind, could. By entering my mother's prescriptions and zip code we got a listing of all approved plans in her area in land - 46 plans in total if I remember correctly. The cost for each of the plans and the cost of my mother's prescriptions was listed. In fact, we got a listing in order of cost. We did not select the cheapest plan, but selected a middle plan from a company that we thought would be there for a while. We also figured that a large, stable company would be less likely to change its drug formulary. I recommend that you get a sighted person to help you. You have to evaluate the plans based on total cost. Otherwise you will go nuts. The plans have different costs, co-pays, and deductibles. Let me repeat, You have to do it on total cost. In land, anyone eligible for subsidized prescription drugs was required to sign up for a plan. This is because the other subsidized plans were all terminated as of December 31, 2005 for anyone on Medicare. In fact, if you did not sign up for a plan, one was selected for you. Due to my mother's income, she receives a reduced plan cost as well as lower co-pays and deductibles. Medicare Part D is saving my mother substantial amounts. I hope that this is of some assistance to you. Marvin Medicare Plan D > I've been trying to figure out Medicare Plan D with 0 success. The site provides a link for screen readers, but I find reading the tabular data all but impossible nonetheless. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they really wanted to make the site helpful, but I find many of the links ambiguous. Apparently they have no clue that many of us get prescription drugs via medical assistance programs and I was getting tired of reading how my drug costs might be cut in half. If what I came up with when my wife and I were on the site the other night is true, I'll be paying hundreds of dollars more. If anyone has any suggestions on helping me make sense of this screw ball program I'd be most grateful. > > Dave > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Pat, I just may end up calling Medicare in the end, even though I consider myself pretty computer savvy. I'm wondering if it would make sense to only list the most expensive drugs and select a plan based on those prescriptions? There are 2 expensive prescriptions that are potential problems for me, and one is Humalog pens. The other one is an anti-seizure drug which the doctor sends me samples of so I don't pay anything for. It appears this arrangement may last for the foreseeable future, but there's no guarantee it will go on forever. The loss of the Eli Lilly program which provided Humalog pens for a $12 co-pay is probably the hardest pill to swallow. I'm thinking I may simply look for a plan that gives me the best deal on Humalog pens and just keep getting the few other drugs which aren't all that expensive at Costco or whoever seems to have the best price at any given time. Dave Medicare Plan D >> >> >>> I've been trying to figure out Medicare Plan D with 0 success. The site >>> provides a link for screen readers, but I find reading the tabular data >>> all but impossible nonetheless. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt >>> and believe they really wanted to make the site helpful, but I find many >>> of the links ambiguous. Apparently they have no clue that many of us >>> get >>> prescription drugs via medical assistance programs and I was getting >>> tired >> >>> of reading how my drug costs might be cut in half. If what I came up >>> with >> >>> when my wife and I were on the site the other night is true, I'll be >>> paying hundreds of dollars more. If anyone has any suggestions on >>> helping >> >>> me make sense of this screw ball program I'd be most grateful. >>> >>> Dave >>> >>> >>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Dave, Have you checked on Liberty Medical about your diabetic supplies? Using Liberty won't affect your Medicare Part D, and as long as you meet your Medicare deductible your own cost won't be that much. That's how I deal with diabetic supplies but I'm not sure if that would also include meds. I get my meds through the Wellcare plan I'm on, but I guess things like the syringes and test strips through Liberty, but they may offer a lot more than that. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 That sounds like a reasonable plan, Dave. But, I would call mediCare just to see what they recommend. They were really good with going over the list of meds my parents are on and my parents are happy with the plan they were put on. Re: Medicare Plan D Pat, I just may end up calling Medicare in the end, even though I consider myself pretty computer savvy. I'm wondering if it would make sense to only list the most expensive drugs and select a plan based on those prescriptions? There are 2 expensive prescriptions that are potential problems for me, and one is Humalog pens. The other one is an anti-seizure drug which the doctor sends me samples of so I don't pay anything for. It appears this arrangement may last for the foreseeable future, but there's no guarantee it will go on forever. The loss of the Eli Lilly program which provided Humalog pens for a $12 co-pay is probably the hardest pill to swallow. I'm thinking I may simply look for a plan that gives me the best deal on Humalog pens and just keep getting the few other drugs which aren't all that expensive at Costco or whoever seems to have the best price at any given time. Dave Medicare Plan D >> >> >>> I've been trying to figure out Medicare Plan D with 0 success. The site >>> provides a link for screen readers, but I find reading the tabular data >>> all but impossible nonetheless. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt >>> and believe they really wanted to make the site helpful, but I find many >>> of the links ambiguous. Apparently they have no clue that many of us >>> get >>> prescription drugs via medical assistance programs and I was getting >>> tired >> >>> of reading how my drug costs might be cut in half. If what I came up >>> with >> >>> when my wife and I were on the site the other night is true, I'll be >>> paying hundreds of dollars more. If anyone has any suggestions on >>> helping >> >>> me make sense of this screw ball program I'd be most grateful. >>> >>> Dave >>> >>> >>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 I used to be with Liberty Medical years ago, but dropped them for reasons that escape me. I think it had something to do with how Medicare and supplemental insurance worked, or didn't work. Maybe I'll call them to see what they think. Dave Re: Medicare Plan D > Dave, > > Have you checked on Liberty Medical about your diabetic supplies? Using > Liberty won't affect your Medicare Part D, and as long as you meet your > Medicare deductible your own cost won't be that much. That's how I deal > with > diabetic supplies but I'm not sure if that would also include meds. I get > my > meds through the Wellcare plan I'm on, but I guess things like the > syringes > and test strips through Liberty, but they may offer a lot more than that. > > Bill Powers > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 The decision on whether you enroll or not is primarily an economic decision. The data you need to accumulate for this decision is: 1. What is your current yearly prescriptions costs? 2. What would be your yearly co-pay costs? 3. What would be your plan deductible? 4. What will be your total yearly premium costs? Add items 2, 3, and 4 together and compare that total to item 1. That is your best estimate as to whether enrollment will save you money. Please remember two things. If you do not enroll now, you may pay a penalty rate for enrollment in the future. In addition, if you are a low income individual, you may be eligible for a reduced rate. My mother, who resides in the State of land, receives a partial subsidy from the State of land as well as Medicare. I also believe that there is no Medicaid prescription coverage now for individuals who are eligible for Medicare coverage. Good luck. Marvin Re: Medicare Plan D > > > Dave, > > Tiers of drug coverage have to do with how much of a co-pay you would have > for that drug. For example, if a drug is a tier 1 drug it's free to you, if > it's tier 2, you have a small copay, anywhere from $5 to $15 depending on > the plan you get, and if it's a tier 3 drug it's one of those expensive > drugs that means you'll have a larger copay. For exapmle, the plan I use has > tier 1 at no copay, tier 2 at $15 a copay and tier 3 at $50. > > Bill Powers > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Well, the trouble is I get most of my prescriptions via some kind of medical assistance program. The one that will hurt the most is losing the Eli Lilly program which allowed me to get Humalog pens for only $12. I was paying $13 for a 30 day supply of the generic equivalent of Prinivil, and found out I can get a 90-day supply from Costco for $20. A couple of my meds are not all that expensive, it's mainly the Humalog pens, Norvasc, and Lipitor. Thanks. Dave Re: Medicare Plan D >> >> >> Dave, >> >> Tiers of drug coverage have to do with how much of a co-pay you would >> have >> for that drug. For example, if a drug is a tier 1 drug it's free to you, > if >> it's tier 2, you have a small copay, anywhere from $5 to $15 depending on >> the plan you get, and if it's a tier 3 drug it's one of those expensive >> drugs that means you'll have a larger copay. For exapmle, the plan I use > has >> tier 1 at no copay, tier 2 at $15 a copay and tier 3 at $50. >> >> Bill Powers >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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