View Full Version : Help! Medicare prescriptions costly
california dreamer
10-25-2011, 03:44 PM
I am researching medicare HMO plans that cover my husbands meds and he has one med that is very expensive with no generic alternative. What should I be researching? Straight medicare and then add a prescription plan? And I don't understand deductibles, do we have to pay thousands first and then the plan kicks in and then we pay a reasonable amount for the covered drug?
We have been spoiled with my HMO from my work, and not having to pay any deductible at all.
Any suggestions of where to begin my search? I have been comparing plans for TV on the medicare.gov website.
thanks in advance:confused:
aljetmet
10-25-2011, 04:09 PM
The first thing you must do is check the plan and make sure that it will allow for the drugs you take. We have found that the difference in costs on part D drugs are not that much different from plan to plan. I do know some plans that have a $320 deductible. The copays for the different tiers are slightlydifferent. If you know your drugs you can calculate the costs. The problem is of course if you need different drugs once you start the plan....
Re read your post as I got distracted at work.
No you don't have to pay $1000s for drugs before the plan kicks in.
Suggest you look at Medicare Advantage plans if you like HMOs. My wife is on one due to her disability. She cannot be on a supplemental plan. The cost is $0 and for medicare parts A , B and D is of course much better than straight medicare. Her plan has $0 deductible for drugs. Check out AARPMEDICARECOMPLETE.COM.
GOOD LUCK!
Avista
10-25-2011, 04:13 PM
We have found with Original Medicare plus supplement, Wellcare RX plan gave us the best deal. If you are looking at hmo's check out Preferred Care Partners or visit them in Sumter Landing. What tier is the medication? Perhaps we cam look different plans up for you.
JenAjd
10-25-2011, 04:27 PM
As the 2nd poster stated....an advantage plan probably is the way to go. Here in FL we have Preferred Care Partners and it's growing quickly. NO premiums and no co-pays on tier one drugs. You NEED to speak with an insurance specialist though to show you what will work best for you. I think those app'ts are at no cost to you!!
california dreamer
10-25-2011, 04:40 PM
maybe i'm reading the medicare.gov site wrong.
looking up each individual plan, it lists retail price for the monthly cost of meds. Is that the price we would have to pay, cause it's over $800 for one of his pain meds that says each of the selected plan covers.
Or is that what the plan pays? so confused now.....
thanks
njbchbum
10-25-2011, 04:48 PM
since i have a retiree prescription plan, i am not familiar with medicare part d. but i do know that there are local pharmacies that offer free/discount meds thru no cost plans. perhaps you might want to check out the two plans with which i am familiar:
http://www.coast2coastrx.com/index.php - free plan accepted by local pharmacies
http://www.freerxsaver.com/publix.php - publix also offers free antibiotics and diabetes meds; site provides location and med look-up
i hope the info does not boggle the mind! there are days when i find this stuff overwhelming!
Gretch298
10-25-2011, 05:53 PM
We are in the same boat will be following this close...Thanks Cali meet you at villages once we get this figured out and behind us!!!!
elevatorman
10-25-2011, 07:30 PM
One of my neighbors is taking a medication that was tier 4. She talked with the ins. people and they said the only way the cost would change was if the Dr. wrote a letter stating that it was the only med that would do what the Dr was trying to accomplish. The Dr wrote the letter and the med was changed to a tier 1 for this patient.
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