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How does this work? This info would really help! (Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 10/28/11 9:38 AM ET
DH & I are thinking I may be much better off with a choice of Medicaire part D for medication. Does anyone use this as your choice of helping with the high cost of medication? Is it cost effective?... How do you know what meds are covered? ..Do all doctors participate in this program? ........ I know a few years back we signed up Mom for AARP part D & now she pays $12 for each medicine instead of big bucks! ....
Thank you so much for any help in this!!!

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Thank you so much for any help in this!!!


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Posted on: 10/28/11 10:20 AM ET
In reply to SewingKitty19
What ever you do, do before first of the year, right now is open enrollment, can only enroll until Dec 31. We are looking at this option for my dh also as we can't afford to cover him on my insurance at work. And since he has medicare my insurance would be secondary and not worth the premiums.
Posted on: 10/28/11 10:45 AM ET
In reply to SewingKitty19
I use medicare part D for my brother in law. His only income is a very small SS check. It does help considerably, although there are still copay and deductibles, and he does hit the donut hole around July each year. But when I figure the cost without it, there is still a substantial savings. The social security website has a calculator where you can see the cost with various plans and what is covered by each one. They are also rated, which I think is important.
Home Health suggested I check out the AARP plan this year which I will be doing this weekend.
And remember if you don't sign up when eligible, and want to sign up later there is a penalty. So consider this as well. He has to pay $3.80 per month penalty because he did not sign up initially.
Home Health suggested I check out the AARP plan this year which I will be doing this weekend.
And remember if you don't sign up when eligible, and want to sign up later there is a penalty. So consider this as well. He has to pay $3.80 per month penalty because he did not sign up initially.
Posted on: 10/28/11 11:45 AM ET
Thank you for posting.... I just checked it out a little bit... gosh there are lots of choices! .........
How do you figure out what is a good deal for this or not? .....
I am looking for myself. I need to find help with my own medications. DH meds are taken care of & he is not on Medicaire....
Thank you for any input...; )
-- Edited on 10/28/11 12:35 PM --
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How do you figure out what is a good deal for this or not? .....
I am looking for myself. I need to find help with my own medications. DH meds are taken care of & he is not on Medicaire....
Thank you for any input...; )
-- Edited on 10/28/11 12:35 PM --
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Posted on: 10/28/11 12:11 PM ET
Maybe you could ask at the pharmacy that you normally use for your husband's meds if they offer help in chosing a plan. They know what the meds he is taking sell for and usually have information on what all the plans pay.
Re: Just wondering does anyone use Part D Medicare for their medicine? (posted on 10/28/11 12:51 PM ET)
In reply to SewingKitty19
If you are already on Medicare you should have been (and continue to be) inundated with offers from several insurance companies to sign up during the annual open enrollment for Medicare.
If Medicare Advantage is offered in your area, prescriptions are covered. Prescriptions and office visits only require small co-pays. There are no deductibles or additional payment for services.
When we were enrolled in Medicare Complete the premium was what we were already paying for Medicare Plan B.
Medicare D is usually an additional premium to Medicare B and has a doughnut hole. That may or may not affect you - it will depend on the cost of your (individual) prescription costs.
Make a list of your current health care providers, including pharmacy and the medicines that you take by prescription as well as over the counter and their cost before talking with representatives of these various plans.
Edited to add - there are two open enrollment periods for 2012 Medicare D coverage See this.
-- Edited on 10/28/11 1:14 PM --
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If Medicare Advantage is offered in your area, prescriptions are covered. Prescriptions and office visits only require small co-pays. There are no deductibles or additional payment for services.
When we were enrolled in Medicare Complete the premium was what we were already paying for Medicare Plan B.
Medicare D is usually an additional premium to Medicare B and has a doughnut hole. That may or may not affect you - it will depend on the cost of your (individual) prescription costs.
Make a list of your current health care providers, including pharmacy and the medicines that you take by prescription as well as over the counter and their cost before talking with representatives of these various plans.
Edited to add - there are two open enrollment periods for 2012 Medicare D coverage See this.
-- Edited on 10/28/11 1:14 PM --
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Posted on: 10/28/11 1:19 PM ET
I am not on medicare but my Mom is and this is what she did:
She called the medicare D hotline up with a list of her medications. They found a plan that had all her meds on its formulary. She pays $4 now when she buys her meds. Granted she is not on a lot of medications. She takes Advair, a thyroid med and a steroid (at times). She is using Wellcare. She carries traditional Medicare plan with Medicare B supplemental and the D plan. This seems to work best with her doctors and she does not have a lot of additional costs. I do not know what her premiums are but I can ask her. She is at the hospital now, we are waiting for her discharge paperwork to get done to bring her home so I'll ask after we get her. (she has chronic breathing problems-- COPD).
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She called the medicare D hotline up with a list of her medications. They found a plan that had all her meds on its formulary. She pays $4 now when she buys her meds. Granted she is not on a lot of medications. She takes Advair, a thyroid med and a steroid (at times). She is using Wellcare. She carries traditional Medicare plan with Medicare B supplemental and the D plan. This seems to work best with her doctors and she does not have a lot of additional costs. I do not know what her premiums are but I can ask her. She is at the hospital now, we are waiting for her discharge paperwork to get done to bring her home so I'll ask after we get her. (she has chronic breathing problems-- COPD).
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Posted on: 10/28/11 1:26 PM ET
In reply to LuceLu
Thank you that would be helpful. I she is better soon...
Advair.... that was not covered before as the insurance DH HAD said it is too expensive...
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Advair.... that was not covered before as the insurance DH HAD said it is too expensive...

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Posted on: 10/28/11 1:39 PM ET
I have a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes Part D.
There are also separate Part D plans.
Each plan is a little different so be sure the meds you need are in their formulary.
Be aware that if you haven't had part D since you turned 65 or other drug coverage, then you have to pay a little extra every month.
You should have gotten the pamphlet from Medicare that shows all the plans available in your area. That is a good place to start.
Many places also have brokers that will help you evaluate plans at no cost to you.
There are also separate Part D plans.
Each plan is a little different so be sure the meds you need are in their formulary.
Be aware that if you haven't had part D since you turned 65 or other drug coverage, then you have to pay a little extra every month.
You should have gotten the pamphlet from Medicare that shows all the plans available in your area. That is a good place to start.
Many places also have brokers that will help you evaluate plans at no cost to you.
Posted on: 10/28/11 6:38 PM ET
The Medicare website has a "formulary finder" function that will help you find plans in your area that cover your meds. You put in your meds/dosages and it comes up with a list of different plans at different price points. Some of the plans have "gap coverage" usually for generics--which means they cover your meds during the infamous "donut hole" period. The donut hole means full coverage stops when you reach a certain dollar limit--it's a couple thousand dollars this year but is the limit amount is going down each year under the new national health care plan until the gap closes--I forget what year that's supposed to happen. Once you have spent a certain amount out of pocket in a calendar year, "catastrophic" coverage kicks in and your meds are covered again. I have one med that is very expensive for which there is no generic, which means I hit the donut hole in July or August, but even then there is a significant discount off the regular retail price on the drug for me since I am on Medicare.
If your income is really low, you may qualify for Medicare's "special help" program, which gives you part D free of charge and without a donut hole.
Here is the main page of the Medicare website:
Medicare website
Click on the Formulary Finder button to find plans in your area.
-- Edited on 10/28/11 6:40 PM --
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If your income is really low, you may qualify for Medicare's "special help" program, which gives you part D free of charge and without a donut hole.
Here is the main page of the Medicare website:
Medicare website
Click on the Formulary Finder button to find plans in your area.
-- Edited on 10/28/11 6:40 PM --
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Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer
Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage
St. Augustine
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