Medicare's Prescription Drug Plan

[patricia1]

If you get Social Sec. Disability and have gotten Medicare through them, starting Nov 15 we start signing up for the many different program we want. I am not a stupid person (or at least I dont claim to be :biglaugh: ) but when I got my book in the mail it had a ton of plans listed. It was hard to tell which one affected me and the pharmacy I use. Well if you go to Medicare's website www.medicare.gov you can simiplify the process. They have a place where you can list the meds you use, what pharmacies you use and what zip code you live. It then only list the plans that will affect you. You can pull up the cost details and it will tell you what you will pay for the meds once you have met the ded. Some plans dont have deducts and the prescription price I notice was a tad higher. It help me greatly in choosing which company I was going to use.

Just thought I would pass this on in case anyone else is having trouble choosing....

[traceann]

Whoa! Thank you for reminding me Patricia! I have to get my mom's set up for her, and I forgot!!! Thanks much!!!

Hugs!

[tigger_gal]

kewl. thanks.. I am still waiting to see if I qualify.. I sent out all the paper work for the rx paln, I recieved a paper saying that they recieved it. Nothing since tho.. hhhhhmmmm..

[Dixiefireball]

Thanks this information you shared will help make it easier on a lot of people out here.

Here is some information i found out in the office today when i had to take my two boys in with the flu.
there was a little booklet laying there i picked up reading saying that a lot of private inc. company are buying our policy threw medicare. So before you sign anything you need to be sure what your signing all the fine print the whole nine yards. like exp.
If you paying a 115.00 a year ded. and you go over to a new policy you may end up paying 15-20 a visit not just that ded. you was already paying. You will also need to make sure if you like the doctor your seeing if they will still see you if you switch to another policy with medicare because not all of these new inc. company that are coming in effect with medicare will pay the same price to the Dr. Some Dr. will be taking ten percent to twenty percent cut and then you will have some that will not take those cuts at all. Then you also have to make sure if your doctor is going to be in that network. there is a lot of ifs, ands, buts, you need to check in to to make sure you can keep the Dr. you want the payment plan that is best for you and so on. keep asking question don't sign your name on nothing until all these question has been answered, because this could be a blessing or it could be some of our worse nightmares.
Please beware!

[patricia1]

Cindy I sent mine in several months ago when I got it. I just got a phone call last week from my case worker asking some questions so they are just now processing mine. Maybe that is what happening to them all.

[ICNDonna]

I don't have much good to say about the new Medicare drug coverage --- for one thing, it's horribly complicated --- and let's say I purchase the plan that will cover my current drugs --- then six months down the line, I need to change to a different drug or add some that aren't on "my" plan. It's enough to make anybody totally nutz!

I've been watching TV coverage and believe me I'm not alone in my concern. It just seems like somehow it should be just a little bit easier.

:headbang: :ignore: :loco:

[Dixiefireball]

I agree Donna it should be easier. If you switch to a private company then they may charge you more then what you was already paying, or they may not cover all your medicines or your doctor may not be in the network, or the co pays may be higher. its such a hard choices.
Please everyone read the fine print before signing anything PLEASE!

[mayray518]

Not to worry Patricia when I was on SSI and had to review the book I thought I would go crazy. I dont think Albert Einstein would get it. I know that I was on Kaiser for awhile and that covered prescriptions but then it got to alot more expensive. I am so happy that this new plan will help people who are on disability due to IC.

[ladygen]

My husband is currently on my plan at work, ppo blue shield, I pay almost 400 a month.
I'm going to send in all his meds and see if its any better. Some of the co-pays don't look too bad. I'm also switching him to medicare. I've read that book about 3 times, and i'm still confused. Although I know it will cost less to put him on medicare and the prescription plan.

I'll keep in touch and let ya'll know how it works, in the mean time I'm keeping him on my plan for now.

[creatingkarma]

I'm not in favor of this new plan at all. It sounds confusing just hearing about it on the news. I worry about the elderly.

[patricia1]

I believe in the plan. I have not had any presciption coverage in yrs after my COBRA ran out. If you watch and check out the plans and look at both the cost monthly and how much you pay for prescription it will help. But you need to be able to compare plans. Something you can not do by looking at the book only. Some plans have a deductible then you still pay high amounts for the meds. I put in my meds and meds I may have to have in the future and compared the prices and some look good.

My concern is for the eldery that are not computer literate and have no one to help them I dont want them to get messed up in the end. I hope many have taken advantage of the seminars and stuff people have been doing for them. I am 34 yrs old and it confuse the mess out of me...

[dminton]

THANK YOU, Patricia!

[DebbieD]

:grouphug: You Now that Prescrition Drug! I have not signed up yet. But My Dad is Retireing soon. He does not Understand the Papers you have to fill out. Well about 2 Months ago they had 2 LAw People to try to understand It. They Laughed cause it was so Bad that They did not Even Understand How to fill it out. So If the so Called experts how in the World do they expect us to do it. :headbang:

Hugs :grouphug:
DebbieD

[bluebyrd88]

The midicare web site is very helpful. I had gone to some of the forums they had around here. I found you have got to be careful, as some sales people will tell you things off the top of their heads and it isn't always true. Compare and then pick, you can get out and back on the orig. medicare, once this year, if you have a problem with the plan you join.
Good luck to all. M.J.

[patricia1]

Debbie I know what you mean. I felt like a complete idoiot. Had a book with all these plans in it but only so many are offered in my area.

Good thing for me I found out yesterday I qualify for Medicare to pay for my prescription drug plan. They will pay 100% of the plan payment, I will have no deductible to pay and my prescription will cost little of nothing. I was so EXCITED :woohoo: . I thought for sure my hubby's salary would not let me qualify but it did. Here is what we bring in maybe it will help others here who thought maybe they made to much also. Total people in household 5 (spouse, me and 3 kids) hubby makes around $39,000 a year and I make around $900/mt SSD. It is worth trying if you did not