Can't Find Medicare 2017 Part D Plans
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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9 years agoRelated Discussions
Explain Medicare Part D Deductibles
Comments (20)I am embarrassed that I didn't remember that the deductible was 'in there' as part of the annual premiums. (Maybe I'm old?) It's annoying to have to shop Part D *every year*. It's a rare year that one or both of us can stay with the same plan from year to year. Our medications change -- maybe go generic (hahaha). DH's doses change. One plan considers XYZ Med a Tier Two; another says it is Tier Three. Each plan has its 'preferred' pharmacy chain. (Most years our plans have *different* preferred pharmacies -- two trips required.) Mail order is often more, rather than less. In 2017 I discovered that one of DH's meds costs the same whether the tablet is a 2mg or a 5mg. His MD is fine with buying the 5mg and using a pill splitter to get four doses. BTW, I am giving up on finding a cheaper alternative to Advair. Symbicort is only $25 cheaper per month (retail); I don't know how I'd react to it; and I'm charged the same out-of-pocket for it as for Advair. Good thing I hadn't already spent my 'savings'....See MoreMedicare Part D Open enrollment
Comments (8)If you take brand name meds, look into whether or not there is an authorized generic available. Authorized generics are identical to the name brand, but marketed as generics, with generic pricing. The FDA has a page that tells about authorized generics, and there is a link to the current listing of which drugs have an authorized generic. That listing is updated every three months. Two of the meds I take, Effient and Diovan, do not have an authorized generic. I cannot take generic Effient because the generic makes me incredibly dizzy. Effient is a blood thinner, so if I fall and suffer an internal injury/internal bleed, it could be extremely dangerous. So, I pay $100 for a 90-day supply of the brand name drug. And, I get to stop taking Effient at the end of January. (Yay!) Diovan has plenty of generics (valsartan), but most have had recalls because of a cancer-causing ingredient. The one I was taking (160mg by Aurobindo Pharma) has not been recalled, but I didn't want to risk it, so I switched to the name brand. There is an authorized generic for another of my meds, Toprol XL, so that's what I get. When I first started taking Toprol XL, there wasn't a generic. And when a generic was first approved, I was given the authorized generic, and that's what I've had ever since, even though the pharmaceutical company that markets the authorized generic has changed several times....See MoreMedicare Part D: Which drug plan are you happy with?
Comments (13)We have access to licensed health insurance advisers (brokers) through my DH's former employer. After I ran the numbers on the Medicare Part D site, I called these people to verify my understanding of the two different plans I had selected for us. They could tell me nothing about the one I selected for myself because...it's not one that they 'broker'. So -- I wouldn't rely on just what one broker offers. Mutual of Omaha is new in our area in 2020. I enrolled in their Value Part D plan because it was among the cheapest when combining the cost of the premium and the cost of my meds. (Advair is my big expense at $450 retail per month.) I'm OK with their preferred pharmacy being CVS. I'll pay $22.80/month premium, and a total of $1232/month average out of pocket including known meds. (My 2019 Part D plan with United was completely overpriced for 2020 when I ran the numbers on the Medicare guide.) My 2020 Part D card arrived in the mail within two weeks of our October enrollment sign-ups; impressive. DH has so few meds that he rarely exceeds the deductible, so a low premium is a goal for him. (Nearly all Part D plans in our area have a $435 deductible in 2020.) He'll have WellCare Select Part D for 2020. Premium is $15.50/month; total with meds averages $249/month. (He also has to pay an $8 penalty in addition to this, dating from when he did not take a Part D plan the first year it was required.) We're OK with this CVS plan. His Part D card has yet to arrive -- despite two letters confirming enrollment; not impressive. We choose to have premiums paid by deduction from our Soc. Sec. benefits. No coupons. No direct withdrawal from bank account....See MoreQuestion about Medicare Part D Drug Plans
Comments (35)All the Part D Drug plans listed in the back of the Medicare and You handbook are approved CMS drug plans for RX coverage that can be selected by Medicare beneficiaries with Original Medicare. These plans are standardized for all states, whether you live in PA or California, the premium and its defined benefit are exactly the same for all enrollees. Each individual drug plan may designate a preferred or standard pharmacy, and by using a preferred pharmacy will in most cases lower the drug cost for the subscriber. When you go to Medicare.gov and input your maintenance medications, you can get an idea of your total drug costs including the monthly premium costs for each of these plans annualized (or monthly even), for an individualized comparative base cost estimate for each drug plan. Of course if any new medications are prescribed for me during the year, I hope it's a tier one, generic medication and most likely covered, or if not, found cheaper with calling around to Walmart or using GoodRX. Personally myself, I choose the least expensive drug plan on the list based on the total estimated cost to me, and by preferred pharmacy. For peace of mind, this exercise should be done each year, as nothing is static and drug plans trend to fluctuate upwards....See More- 9 years ago
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