I don't know how much it helps you, but DH has the Humana Drug plan. He isn't prescribed any medication (he did take an antibiotic for a week last spring for bronchitis) but as you said, who knows what might come up. It's more a peace of mind expense to me.

Until last month, I was covered by an individual Lifewise plan (affiliated with Premera Blue Cross). I do take some things and my monthly cost picking up prescriptions with the Lifewise coverage at my local privately owned drug store, not Walmart, was $29.40 a month.

This month I'm covered by Medicare and have the same Humana Drug coverage, after sitting at our insurance brokers office and comparing all that was available to me in my state, county, it made as much sense as anything else.

Same privately owned drug store, I paid $27.30 when I filled my same prescriptions. So while you do have a deductible, if you should need something, you still are not paying full price for the drugs but the discounted amount under the plan.

I wasn't interested in changing my prescriptions to Walmart and found I don't have to. I've seen the take-a-number, long lines at their pharmacy when I've been in the store...No thanks ;).

alisande -- If I were you, I'd go with the cheapest premium. Yes, you *could* pay that $320 deductible -- IF you are prescribed enough meds to reach that limit. (Even if you did, it's still less than your current Part D will be in 2015.)

That Humana/Wal-Mart plan is offered here, too. DH and I will each breeze right through that deductible with our outrageously priced meds, regardless, so it may make sense for us too.

Our 2014 WellCare Part D is going up from $20/mo. to $30/mo. I don't see keeping that if we can do better.

Have you 'run the numbers' on Part D plans on www.medicare.gov

Re:Deductibles. In 2012 and 2013 we had a Medicare Supplemental Plan F that paid for everything and the kitchen sink. For 2014 we took a Plan F- High Deductible ($2200/pp deductible) and are money ahead. We could afford to pay that $2200 each if necessary, but I have only had about $300 in out of pocket and DH less. We were still protected in the event of HUGE medical bills.

Re: Filling prescriptions. We are fine with 90-day supplies from mail order on our maintenance meds. This year my cost for Advair was a third lower via mail order. (It's still a big rip-off, but that's because the US doesn't negotiate pricing with the pharmaceutical companies.)

I realize I am sticking my neck out here and I am prepared to have it chopped off . . .

There are other companies besides the "Big Boys" who offer information on this subject. I have had my Medicare supplement with one of them for many years.

I am Christian, and this is a religious based company. I know there are many other Christians here at the KT. You do not have to be of the same persuasion as this company; and it is not radical. I will not post the URL here, but if you have any interest, email me through my page, and I will share it with you. I have no interest in this company other than knowing how helpful it is, and has been, to me over the years.

Sue

Sue -- How about describing what the company offers without naming it. Is it offered nationwide? Not an HMO? Medicare Advantage or Supplemental? Does it offer all the plans -- gosh, what are they -- A though M?

I thought Medicare listed *every* company it approved in a given area. Not this one?

I am not aware of any list of approved companies, although there could well be one.

The topic of this thread is: About Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, so that is what my reference pertained to.

Have you 'run the numbers' on Part D plans on www.medicare.gov

Yes, I have. But without prescriptions to plug in, there aren't many numbers to run.

My DH insured us with a high deductible, but in those days we had a much higher income than I have today.

Morz8, that helps a lot, thank you. Actually, Walmart is the pharmacy I use. I was less than thrilled when they filled my antibiotic prescription with an antidepressant (and told me to just throw them away), but I caught it in time and will continue to be vigilant--as everyone should be no matter where they fill their prescriptions.

Does anyone know if an insurance carrier will raise your premium if you drop them and then return? Just curious if there's any penalty for doing this.

I've never heard of changing, then returning or reapplying for coverage resulting in any increase of premiums other than those that are straight across the board for all if those increases have taken place. I think many are shopping each year for best prices and coverage and not staying with the same carrier year after year with the supplements to Medicare at least.

Alisande, that was another reason other than the waiting lines I chose to avoid being limited to Walmart. I have a friend who is a county public health nurse and she confided the pharmacist at our local store makes more than she feels is a reasonable number of prescription mistakes. But her criticism was of only the man in our local store, not of Walmart in general.

My long time drug store has a friendly feature I haven't had to use but appreciate knowing its available....they deliver free to your door or place of work if you cannot pick up your order.

The reason to review your plan with your meds every year is that the drug companies are constantly making new and different deals with the insurance companies. So what might have been a good deal for you today might not work for next year.

For help in reviewing your plan, check your county's office on aging (whatever they call it) for a Federally funded program that assists people with Medicare plans. It's free to the consumer.

I'm not on medicare, but I do insurance billing. One of the people I talked to at AARP said that all Medicare products are going up 5-6% for the next year. Don't know if this is true or not, but if it is, the 3% increase in social security doesn't help much.

Social Security payments are only going up 1.7%. 3% would be a windfall. But the Medicare Part B payment is NOT going up this year.

From what I've been reading, although there will be increases in health care costs, the rates of increase have slowed dramatically from a few years ago. And, yes, Part B remains at $104.80/mo. (unless you have extraordinary adjusted gross income).

DH's former employer continues to provide assistance to retirees via an HRA (Health Reimbursement Arrangement). We will be talking with the company's approved insurance exchange soon for aid in selecting Medicare supplementary insurance. They set up the HRA to reimburse us with tax-free dollars up to a (static) dollar limit.

Our local Senior Center has help available. Everyone on Medicare should have received the big 'Medicare 2015' booklet by now. It lists approved plans for a given area. I find the online site easier to use. It can compare pricing and benefits for Medicare Advantage, Supplemental, and Part D policies: www.medicare.gov