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One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 08:54AM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: Ombligo
Date: October 16, 2021 09:35AM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: Numo
Date: October 16, 2021 10:01AM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: mspace
Date: October 16, 2021 10:09AM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 10:27AM
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mspace
If you do not renew with her current company, they will automatically NOT cover her for 2022.
That is why you must either renew or sign her up with your new choice during the open window. Whoever you sign with will start her coverage Jan 1, 2022.
Also, Medicare agents are free to the consumer. They are paid by the companies they represent and the commission is the same. The key is to pick one that handles a number of companies, so they are not steering you to just the one they work for.
While I could easily do my sign ups directly with the companies I choose, I use an agent to help with the fine details and let him sign me up so he can make his money, as he has been a big help at times with the whole process.
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 10:31AM
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Ammo
I also recommend checking out Good RX. It’s weird that I can get much better prices on some of my prescriptions by not using my Part D insurance. It’s important to shop around different pharmacies to compare costs - they can vary widely depending upon where you have your prescription filled. In my area (for my meds) Costco and Hy-Vee usually beat other drug stores, Walgreens and CVS are usually much worse.
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: mspace
Date: October 16, 2021 10:46AM
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rgG
Quote
mspace
If you do not renew with her current company, they will automatically NOT cover her for 2022.
That is why you must either renew or sign her up with your new choice during the open window. Whoever you sign with will start her coverage Jan 1, 2022.
Also, Medicare agents are free to the consumer. They are paid by the companies they represent and the commission is the same. The key is to pick one that handles a number of companies, so they are not steering you to just the one they work for.
While I could easily do my sign ups directly with the companies I choose, I use an agent to help with the fine details and let him sign me up so he can make his money, as he has been a big help at times with the whole process.
Her coverage always renews with her current company, has for as long as she has had part D, from when it first started, so she will have coverage, if I don’t do anything. This is also true for my husband, his policies always renew, if we don’t make a change.
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: Grateful11
Date: October 16, 2021 11:07AM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: Ombligo
Date: October 16, 2021 11:35AM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 12:03PM
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Ombligo
Just some quick comparisons of retail prices at various pharmacies. It can pay to shop
Simvastaton
Winn Dixie - $4.00
CVS - $27.00
Costco - $12.88
Publix - $8.00
Sildenafil
Winn Dixie - $188
CVS - $1287
Costco - $48
Publix - $24.52
Zonisamide
Winn Dixie - $103
CVS - $196
Costco - $34
Publix - $29.60
Metformin
Winn Dixie - $4
CVS - $21
Costco - $12.99
Publix - free
Cumultive --
Winn Dixie - $299
CVS - $1531
Costco - $107.87
Publix - $62.12
GoodRX cheapest locations - $33.67
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: JoeM
Date: October 16, 2021 01:04PM
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rgG
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Ammo
I also recommend checking out Good RX. It’s weird that I can get much better prices on some of my prescriptions by not using my Part D insurance. It’s important to shop around different pharmacies to compare costs - they can vary widely depending upon where you have your prescription filled. In my area (for my meds) Costco and Hy-Vee usually beat other drug stores, Walgreens and CVS are usually much worse.
I agree about shopping around, but my 90 year old mom has CVS as her only option. She lives in a very small town.
I might be able to get her to try a GoodRx card, but luckily right now she only has a generic BP med on a recurring basis. It might be good to have her ask the pharmacist to check the GoodRx price on any other stuff she has to get.
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: mspace
Date: October 16, 2021 01:22PM
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Quote
JoeM
Quote
rgG
Quote
Ammo
I also recommend checking out Good RX. It’s weird that I can get much better prices on some of my prescriptions by not using my Part D insurance. It’s important to shop around different pharmacies to compare costs - they can vary widely depending upon where you have your prescription filled. In my area (for my meds) Costco and Hy-Vee usually beat other drug stores, Walgreens and CVS are usually much worse.
I agree about shopping around, but my 90 year old mom has CVS as her only option. She lives in a very small town.
I might be able to get her to try a GoodRx card, but luckily right now she only has a generic BP med on a recurring basis. It might be good to have her ask the pharmacist to check the GoodRx price on any other stuff she has to get.
I've used GoodRx and I generally change my Part D plan every year if I see the rates are set to go up on renewal. The thing to keep in mind with GoodRX is while the savings can be substantial for some drugs using it will not help you meet your Plan D deductible. You'll need to figure out if that is acceptable when it comes to other drugs or the possibility that an expensive drug might be prescribed for your mom in the near future. It's weird but sometimes you'll actually save more in the long run by paying more for a few drugs upfront and meeting your deductible as soon as possible. IF your mom uses few medications and they are not high cost, than it might pay to never meet your deductible and take the GoodRx savings.
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: deckeda
Date: October 16, 2021 01:59PM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 02:20PM
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deckeda
If there's cost difference show it to her and let her decide if it's worth changing.
And if it's not worth changing ask her why she's frittering away your inheritance. Bwahaaa I love messing with my dad about what he buys!
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: TL
Date: October 16, 2021 04:17PM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 04:26PM
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TL
1.if you already have a Part D plan, with no action your plan will roll over to the next year. The only exception is if the plan does not offer part d the next year, and even then you are going to be be rolled over to a similar plan with the same company whenever possible (eg, Humana might offers plans a, b, and c this year but drop c for next year. They will move people in plan c to plan a or b automatically unless you actively choose something else).
2. There can be significant changes to a plan each year, including to premium, copay structure, drug coverage, and network, so you should always review the Annual Notice of Change your plan sends.
3. If you do pay out of pocket for a drug, you actually can submit the information to your plan by paper claim. You may not get any money back, but it will count toward your drug spend (total drug cost - what gets you into the coverage gap) and your True Out of Pocket costs (what you pay plus manufacturer payments in the gap on branded drugs - gets you into catastrophic coverage).
4. You don’t really need a broker. if you do need personalized help, every state has state health insurance assistance program (SHIP) counselors available to help for free. Georgia’s program is through Georgia Cares: [mygeorgiacares.org] . These folks are experts in all things Medicare and more and are great at navigating enrollment choices, claims issues, and much more.
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: deckeda
Date: October 16, 2021 05:35PM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: graylocks
Date: October 16, 2021 05:51PM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 05:57PM
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graylocks
Big thanks for this thread. Got my Annual Notice from Kaiser today for my Medicare Advantage plan and might has just tossed it as simply my monthly statement. But because of this thread I actually read it.
My Kaiser a
Medicare Advantage plan, for which I pay $0, is actually improving; they are including dental and a number of services are reducing in price also. The Advantage Plus plan I pay $13 for is going down to $9.
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 06:00PM
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deckeda
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rgG
I know my mom will say, “do whatever you think is right,” ...
Oh yeah I know that response. You're doomed, sorry.
Loved my mom, but I took those statements at face value without regret. The guilt trip never worked on me.
Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: Michael
Date: October 16, 2021 08:39PM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: Buzz
Date: October 16, 2021 09:38PM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 16, 2021 10:38PM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: GGD
Date: October 17, 2021 12:54AM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: AllGold
Date: October 18, 2021 01:28PM
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Re: One more Medicare Part D question
Posted by: rgG
Date: October 18, 2021 09:12PM
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AllGold
To answer your original question, it really doesn't matter how you sign up for the new plan. Medicare.gov or direct to the insurance company's web site makes no difference. You can also do the switch by phone either through Medicare or the insurance company.
One small tidbit that probably won't matter but just so you know...
During the "open enrollment" Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) that runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 every year, you can make as many changes (selections/signups) to your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan as you want. The last one in is the one that goes into effect on Jan. 1. So if you discover something better after you've already signed up, as long as it is Dec. 7th or before, you can still make another selection.