Yes, I have it. I don't take any prescription drugs yet, but I ask if I'd be penalized for every month I didn't take it (like Part B). It irks me that I pay for something I don't use, but if anything happened and I needed expensive drugs, I figure I'm better off in the long run. I think it's $35 a month--but that probably went up like everything else.

Fortunately our prescriptions are covered by our supplemental insurance through my husbands former employer. (We are retired) I just ordered husbands 7 prescriptions. Our cost: $380 for a 3 month supply of his needed medicine. Without coverage it would have been $1400. 6 years ago our cost was $7 per prescription. That is what the downfall of General Motors has done to all it's retirees. But we are still very fortunate to have the coverage we have. I know it is much harder for those that must rely on what Medicare alone has to offer.

Yes, I knew about that. When we first signed on for Medicare a couple of years ago, we got a letter saying that our supplemental coverage from my previous employer was deemed to be at least as good as Part D, so we would not have to buy it through Medicare like we do for Part B.

We are NOT on Part D due to DH's retirment medical. They have a great one thru Blue Cross, so if we would choose part D we would loose some of our medical. What I am saying before you make any decision, read your medical/prescription plan and if necessry, talk to the provider. There are other options.

Dean has Blue Cross also in Retirement plan. He is signing for A,B. I hope he is right. He needs a scooter.

We didn't get D. It's part of DH's supplemental policy,like Gazania.

On the topic of health insurance, Blue Shield of CA is raising their rates by as much as 59%!!! One person interviewed said his monthly premium went from $271 to $431. Many people won't be able to afford these increases. I guess what I would do is modify the policy, if possible. It's horrible.

My retirement package from the State of California pays my Medicare premium and my supplemental Blue Cross/Blue Shield premium. Lucky me.

When my DH was in the nursing home his prescriptions would have been paid for IF he signed up for part D, but if I had done that, then I would have lost my prescription coverage. He was retired from GM. So I paid out of pocket for his medicine until his death.

If your supplemental insurance has a prescription plan equal or better than Plan D you are okay.

That's IF ...

... you live in the good old U.S. of A.

ole joyful

We have insurance locked in from retirement that the company pays for. We only pay $5.00 for a prescription.

I've been on medicare for a year, my husband has been on for 4 years and we've not had to get any other supplements.

patti

My financial lady told me they will try to get you to get thier medication plan but I was advised not to because I have a better plan with highmark,blue shield.

Yes, and I think that's a really lousy rule. I don't take any meds either, yet I've been forced to pay for Part D in order to avoid the penalty. I don't know who came up with the "forever penalty," but I'd love to hear the rationale behind it.

Yes, I did know, and signed up with the AARP policy that costs only 32.00/mo. Even though I take all generics, and will not fall into the coverage gap....one never knows what future illness or disease would happen, generating big prescription costs. There are a lot of drugs out there that can run into hundreds or thousands of dollars a month.

We don't have to have part D as dh is retired military,and we also have tri care 4 life.We get most of our meds on base,and the others thru the mail from express scripts,and the most we pay them is 9.00 for a 3 month supply.We've been on medicare for 7 and 8 years.
Kathi

Accidental fall from 10 foot = $120,000 (10 day stay ICU stepdown unit in hospital) not to mention MD, surgeons, ortos, radiologist bills...medical emergency transportation...then...rehab nursing skilled facility for @ least 90 days...wheelchair, walker, bedside commode and now home health care...

All this has been since November with my husband...Open Book Pelvic Fracture and Broken Left Humerus..all surgically repaired with plates and screws..so I'm typing in Caps!

YES YES YES....YOU MUST HAVE PART D ... OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF INSURANCE...otherwise you could face financial disaster in a moment! And may I add...Part G Supplement to pay the 20% left over after Medicare pays the 80%...look at your options...recommending Mutual of Omaha.

I don't really know much about Medicare -- so I
guess I am just talking. Actually, just wondering.

It sounds like some of you don't want to get the
drug coverage until you are actually taking drugs?
Isn't that like wanting to buy life insurance after
you are told you are dying?

And, how do you know you won't have to take expensive
drugs - say tomorrow? Do you mean, that if you should
get a life-threatening illness, infection, etc., with
very expensive meds -- then you want to be able to
just automatically get the insurance? And, then what?
If the expensive drugs save your life, and you are all
well again and not on meds -- you just want to say, oh
heck -- I don't want Part D anymore - no more premiums
for me.

Really?

Molly is right folks...it doesn't work that way! If I could have it now...that would be great! But, I can't not quite old enough...but, trust me..it's better than being scared to go to the MD like me..not for fear of what might be wrong, but for the fear of what it will cost me without insurance!

I believe you only have to get Part D if you want Part D supplement. DH doesn't have Part D, and we pay for his prescriptions ourselves.

Very good point Molly! We're not Mediare age yet, but I deal with Mediare patients at work. It's very confusing to know just what to buy, however, I can't imagine going without the coverage(s).

Yes, you can do that Joan, but when you get the prescription or two that costs hundreds each month,you will wish that you had some drug coverage. You might never need those drugs but then again, you don't know that.

You dont havbe to be medicare age to get it,Im on it because Im on dialysis,over 6,000 a month.So medicare pays it/.If we had to pay that Id quit dialysis.

Here is sincerely hoping and praying you or none of your loved ones face this terrible disease..but reality is..it could happen tomorrow and if it were me the $110. Part D premimum we pay for my husband each month would be nothing! Don't neglect it...don't put it off! If your new to SSI...you won't miss it from your check...if you have delayed taking it...I'd like for you to speak with the family of a dear man my husband was in the room with several weeks ago..his family is heartbroken at what they look at losing financially...not to mention the heartache of watching him suffer because he elected something besides Medicare and now that dictates how long he stays and what he can and cannot have to make him comfortable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wake UP call Part D is Needed

Medicare pays for most infusion treatments because they are considered a medical treatment, not a self-administered drug.

As to having to pay for Part D ... when you sign up for Medicare, you have three choices.

Getting Medicare and Medicare Part D....all premiums paid to Medicare.
Getting a Medicare Advantage policy from a Medicare-approved company...and all premiums are paid to the private insurer. Many of these policies cover prescription drugs, and some don't.
Getting Medicare and a Part D Prescription policy from a private insurer. You pay Medicare for medical premium, and a private insurer for private insurance premium.

Or - No prescription drug coverage by either Medicare or a Private insurer. Both will charge a higher premium if you enroll after age 65.

When we signed up ,they told us it wasn't necessary because we have other insurance. We don't pay for the other insurance, it's a part of Denny retirement.
No matter how much each prescription costs...it is only $5.00.
So to say we "MUST" get part D is not always correct is what I was trying to say earlier.
Yes I think all who are on medicare need more than just medicare alone.

I'm just sorry we had to get medicare, our insurance covered better than medicare does.

I understand that, Chessey, but this was his choice. He sold Medicare supplements for 25 years, and this is what he chose to do. Luckily, so far, he's 3 weeks short of 76 and only takes Simvastatin, which is $12.00 for a 90 day supply at WalMart.
I will enroll in Part D when I am old enough, if it's still around.

Well, Molly, when you put it that way, I have to agree you are absolutely right. I won't be irked anymore :-)

I really understand all of this. Are you all under the impression you have to carry a prescription plan?

If part D is a prescription plan I don't have it, I've never had any prescription plan and I am on medicare. I only take one prescription a blood pressure pill which costs $20.. Why should I have to carry a plan.

My friend told me if I did not signed up when it first started I would be penalized. She also said her brother was penalized when he finally took it out recently. When I asked her how much she said $6. I told her to do the math. I would have paid at least $30 a month if I had signed up when this started. $30 X 12 for 3 years. Look at the money I have saved....

Here is a good read taken from the link below.

The Penalty Can Add Up!

How much the late enrollment penalty will cost you depends on how long you did not have creditable prescription drug coverage. The late enrollment penalty is calculated by multiplying 1% of the "national base beneficiary premium" ($32.34 in 2011) times the number of full, uncovered months that you were eligible but didn't join a Medicare drug plan and went without other creditable prescription drug coverage.

The final amount is then rounded to the nearest $.10 and added to your monthly premium. Since the "national base beneficiary premium" may increase each year, the penalty amount may also increase every year. You may have to pay this penalty for as long as you have a Medicare drug plan.

Example 1: Mrs. Jones did not join a Part D plan when she was first eligible (by May 15, 2006). She joined a Medicare drug plan during the 2009 enrollment period (November 15,December 31, 2009), for an effective enrollment date of January 1, 2010. Since Mrs. Jones did not join when she was first eligible and went without other creditable drug coverage for 43 months (June 2007,December 2010), she will be charged a monthly penalty of $13.90 in 2011 ($32.34 x.01 = $.3234 x 43 = $13.90) in addition to her plan's monthly premium. If Mrs. Jones continues with her Part D drug plan for the next five years, her penalty will cost her over $800.00

Example 1: Mr. Smith did not join a Part D plan when he was first eligible (by January 15, 2010). He joined a Medicare drug plan during the 2010 enrollment period (November 15,December 31, 2010), for an effective enrollment date of January 1, 2011. Since Mr. Smith did not join when he was first eligible and went without other creditable drug coverage for 11 months (February 2010-December 2010), he will be charged a monthly penalty of $3.60 in 2011 ($32.34 x.01 = $.3234 x 11 = $3.0) in addition to his plan's monthly premium. If Mr. Smith continues with his Part D drug plan for the next five years, his penalty will cost him over $200.00

That's food for thought.

Good post Molly.

Here is a link that might be useful: Medicare Part D Late Enrollment Penalty

Vala - you don't have to have a prescription plan if you're prepared to pay out of pocket for all drugs. That is certainly your prerogative. But have you ever thought about how the cost of medicine you might need in the future? I sincerely hope you never need another prescription that is more expensive.

Any insurance you have is nearly always a choice between pay now -or- maybe pay later. We've payed for decades on our homeowners & have only had 1 small claim; same way with auto insurance, we've paid way more than we've ever had in claims.

So, with Medicare Part D, it is probably an easy choice if you are on several &/or high cost meds. But for those who are healthy/on no meds, it is a more difficult decision, more calculations are needed to compare/contrast & more of a roll of the dice as to when or if you will eventually require meds that are high priced.

There are those who do not look at the long range when deciding how to spend their money today. Different strokes for different folks.

I think it is very important for people to understand the repercussions of either choice.

Maire, I don't intend to take any more prescriptions except pain pills if I need them. I really think the preventative meds are much to dangerous, death from drugs are way up. And I do not want to outlive my memory, so I am just going to let nature take it's course. My Mom died at 97 and lived several years unable to read or watch TV. When she could get out side she was happy. My husband was kicked out of 2 care homes and was on his way out of a third. A mental hospital would have been his next stop if he had lived. I'm not going there unless I have a stroke and have no control.

There is one way around Medicare D. If you have other insurance (such as Blue Cross) with "creditable" prescription coverage , you can avoid filing Medicare D or file for it later without a penalty. And just what is "creditable" coverage? Your insurance company will send you a letter every January explaining. Hold onto those letters for future Medicare D if you choose to enroll.

Oh, vala, nobody ever INTENDS to take prescriptions, but sometimes they are necessary! Do you have any idea how much pain pills like Vidodin cost? Or how debilitating pain can be without pills? Are you really prepared to die because you don't want to take pills for high blood pressure because you don't want to buy insurance? Will you decline drugs if you are hospitalized for a heart attack or stroke? Or cancer? Or diabetes? Or arthritis? Or a broken bone?

I wish you well.

Jannie's right - if you have "creditable" drug coverage with whatever insurance you might have in addition to Medicare Part A (and B, if you opted for that), you do not need to buy into Medicare Part D.

Creditable simply means "equal to or better than" in insurance company language.

If you've got "creditable" drug coverage, save the letter you get each year stating so - it will save you from penalties if your private insurance ever drops the drug coverage.

And to those of you who don't plan on getting sick or ever needing drugs... well, good luck to you. No one "plans" these things, they happen. Do you think I planned on getting Rheumatoid Arthritis or Addison's Disease? That would make me just over the edge of nuts. But I'm glad my insurance pays for the drugs that keep me from crippling up or having my systems shut down one by one in an extremely agonizing way.

I've been on Medicare (plus supplemental BlueCross) since I was age 58 (disability), and am now 73, and I don't have Part D.

Part D, the Drug Program, didn't exist in the first maybe 7 years. Then when it came into exisence, I went with it for awhile, then opted out a year later.

I've doubt in my 73 years on earth I've spent $200 on prescription drugs, if that. And I don't have nor foresee any conditions that would require me to use costly prescription drugs....heck the smallest bottle of Tylenol lasted me almost 10 years.

And, of course, any hospital-administered drugs are covered anyway outside of Part D.

I looked at my personal financial situation & also my past & present health, and decided Part D currently wouldn't make sense. I can always opt back in to Part D at a certain point of each year (enrollment period)if necessary, & even the increased monthly premium would hardly break me.

Depends on the situation.