Can't Find Medicare 2017 Part D Plans
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
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Medicare Part D Question
Comments (6)This is why I am so appreciative of my Medigap policy. It pays any and all deductibles. Medicare Advantage plans are the ones that include medical (so you don't have Original Medicare) and prescription drugs. My Medigap policy is through the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) for State Retirees, so I have Original Medicare for hospitalization and medical, and the Medigap policy picks up the deductibles and is a second, supplemental, insurance for both. With this coverage I pay zero (the State even reimburses me for the monthly Medicare premium and also pays the monthly Medigap policy premium). The Medigap policy also includes prescription drug coverage (PSP). The PSP has no deductible, just co-pays (e.g., no more than $5 for a 34-day supply for a generic; no more than $10 for a 90-day supply of a generic). The great thing is that the PSP still pays for medications through what would otherwise be the Coverage Gap Stage (a/k/a the "donut hole"). All I would have to pay is the same co-pay as during the Initial Coverage Stage. When I last filled my high blood pressure medications, my co-pay on one of them was LOWER through my Part D coverage (it was $8) than it was when I was on the "basic" insurance as an active state employee (when I paid $10). ChiSue, didn't you say before that you have a Medicare Advantage Plan? Are you thinking of changing to Original Medicare with a separate Plan D?...See MoreExplain 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: 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 MoreMy Medicare Part D Plan Went Belly-Up
Comments (23)No, my plan is most definitely NOT a Medicare Advantage plan! Hubs and I are both covered by the PERSCare (PPO) Supplement to Medicare Plan and the PERSCare Medicare PDP (Prescription Drug Plan). (The Basic plan is for folks who are still active employees.) We don't get a choice of Prescription Drug Plans -- we have to take what the State offers with whatever Medicare Supplement Plan we choose. (For example, the State offers Kaiser, and Kaiser manages their own prescriptions. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association plans, active employees as well as retirees, are administered by Blue Shield, and the CCPOA pharmacy benefits are also administered by Blue Shield. The California Association of Highway Patrolmen plans, both Basic and Medicare Supplements, are administered by Anthem Blue Cross, but their prescriptions are managed by Express Scripts.) You can see all of this information on this page. Our plan (PERSCare) has no geographical restrictions. It covers us no matter where we are in the world. OptumRx manages the prescription drug coverage. We pay no additional premium for the drug coverage - it's included in the premium for the Supplement policy. You can read the entire Evidence of Coverage booklet if you're interested. I see in looking at it that it is, indeed, our "Plan D" that handles the Gap coverage (see this info starting on page 53 of the linked EoC; the Gap Stage on page 62; and the Catastrophic Coverage Stage on page 64). You can also see the Comprehensive Formulary if you're interested....See More- 10 years ago
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