HELP! Signing my parents up for a Medicare prescription plan...

[the blues]

...and I am baffled. Their present plan, which covers prescription drugs, is ending. It looks to me like they will still have a hefty co-pay if they choose a Medicare prescription plan with a low monthly premium.

Is there some secret to this that I'm missing? They have a Medigap plan that doesn't include prescription drugs. Should I find another Medigap plan that includes prescription drugs?

Thanks in advance for any info or smart links you have about this unnecessarily complicated issue.

:hi:

[unhappycamper]

1. I know that AARP had a plan that paid for many drugs and procedures.

My mom was on this plan for the last years of her life & it seemed to help.

I'm turning 65 this summer so I should also start looking at things.

[the blues]

3. Thanks. I'll look into that.

Just a heads-up for you: timing is an issue if you decide to go with the Medicare prescription plan. If I understand it correctly, you have to wait until the year-end open enrollment period unless you sign up at your initial Medicare registration.

[DCKit]

6. Was she also paying far more than the stated rate?

My Mom's (AARP) plan was costing $117.05 more/month than the $38.40 they claimed and none of us could get an explanation. It's funny how some groups use "confidentiality" when it suits them.

Since two months of premiums exceeded her yearly benefits, she canceled the plan (her drugs are already covered under parts A & B and she won't take anything new).

[unhappycamper]

9. IIRC, she paid around $35 ~ $40 per month.

I've shredded all the paperwork 4 or 5 years ago.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Try this site.

It does a good job of explaining the various plans, parts of Medicare.
I THINK the site has a feature that lets you compare plans.
If not, google "compare Medicare plans" and something helpful should pop up.
Warning: this site is a commercial, insurance paid for site. Still, I found it helpful.

http://www.medicarebenefits.com/cms/index.php?id=10

Also, depending on your parent's income and their interest in using a clinic, here is a gateway to free/low income clinics. I have used these and find it costs much less than paying all the Medicare premiums.
In our area, outpatient medical care and our needs are still fairly inexpensive.

http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinics.taf

[the blues]

5. I'll check it out.

Thank you! :thumbsup:

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. The wife and I signed up this month

for UHC's Part D plan. $40.80 a month. It looked like the best for us. (AARP's had tons of legalese mumbo-jumbo in the paperwork and frightened me off).

It IS a jungle trying to figure out which plan is best, though.

I'll switch to something else next open enrollment period if this one turns out to be not-so-good.


Good luck.

[frazzled]

7. Take into consideration the specific drugs your parents take

Although that could change, and the formularies for each plan can change. Here is a calculator from CVS (I know, I know) that takes into account the drugs you take and the area you live in (scroll down to "How Do I Prepare to Choose...)

http://www.cvs.com/medicare/

[the blues]

8. This is one of the things that disturbs me about the plans I'm looking at...

There's a lot of double-talk about tiers of drugs and coverage gaps and the party of the first part, etc., which all indicates to me that someone's trying to put something over on me.

Thanks for the link -- I'll give it a shot. Sometimes the most unlikely vessels carry water. (Wish I knew where that quote came from!)

[trof]

10. Easy-peasey - Compare plans & costs here:

CVS has an excellent calculator here:
http://www.cvs.com/medicare/#Best_Option

I found out I can save almost $500 per year by switching from AARP United Healthcare to Windsor Health Plan.

[elleng]

11. Thanks! I just used it.

Still have to obtain some info. May (or may not) have to quit FEHB plan, and become medicare eligible in Feb.