medicare and the "part D" or "part B" of whichever company Bushy put in

[cliffordu]

the stream of my medication/payment routine to raise my prices just stopped paying for my Diovan.


THis is a relatively cheap drug that adequately keeps my blood pressure in line.

I found out when I went to get it filled and the Pharmacist said so.
I have been using it for years.

Thanks, Bush. Rot in hell, please.

[napi21]

1. That would be Part D. That's one of the problems with this

program. You have to pick an insurer and YOU are only allowed to change suppiers once a year, but the company you chose can change what drugs ore on their formulary (list of drugs they cover) at any time and without notice!

I've heard that complaint from a lot of people!

[cliffordu]

5. And unless you have a degree in this crap, understanding the choices is nearly

impossible - I'm not stupid but have rolled ovr and let them shuffle me onto what amounts to a group W bench....

Jesus.

[napi21]

9. I got lucky. I found a local ins. broker who specializes in

medicare suplemental, advantage, and PaedtD plans only. He was wonderful at gathering alll of our info, meds, wants, fears, and explaining all the different plans that were available, what the difference fetween them was, and handled all the enrolement things for us. There was no extrra charge, he just makes his commission the same as any insurance salesman does. I double checked to make sure! He also calls each time there's an open enrolment period, tells us about any new plans available, and what changes are coming up.

[cliffordu]

11. Excellent - I never would have thought of a local guy....

I'll look around for someone. Thanks!!!!

[napi21]

13. I found this guy by accident.. There are sites on the net where you

fill in your information and they send it to a lot of different ins.l agents. I just put "medicare supplemental plans Georgia" and after looking at more different sites than I care to admit, I found this one that said you would receive info from several available plans if you just entered your name, email, age, meds you are taking. I did receive several replies from others,k but this guy contacted me via email and asked if it was OK if he called me. We talked for quite a while on the phone, and I was impressed with the amount of knowledge he had about all the plans.

When we met, I asked his how this contact source thing worked. It's a service agents can subscribe to, and your info. is forwarded to them when you fill our the request form.

I don't know if that's the best way to find an agent like that, but that's how I found him.

[whistle]

2. Bush and the republicans in congress made that happen

[pinto]

3. Suggest you and your doc request a Utilization Management (UM) review.

Or check other plans in your area for specific coverage.

info on UM
http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/7749.pdf

Medicare D plans, by state
http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/SelectState.asp

general info
http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Shared/Static/tabHelp.asp?activeTab=4&Language=English

Hang in there.

[cliffordu]

6. Thanks for this!!! I see my Doctor first thing in the morning -

for a minor surgical procedure....I'll drill him on this.

Thanks again, Pinto!!!

[jwirr]

4. And they think we are going to want these insurance companies in

a universal health care plan. They are already raising the rates - mine went up $7.00 a month.

[cliffordu]

7. making a profit on sickness and providing the least expensive option for care

is REALLY going to be an issue with the Boomers getting older and screaming at the top of our lungs (I was born in the early '50s)...

Single Payer Now!!!

[hayu_lol]

8. I refused to join the 'part D' scheme...

wouldn't have done me any good. Noticed that my meds for this month doubled in price...possibly because part D is footing some of the bill for some people. As we knew when the Repugs forced passage of this bill, the bill is proving out to be cumbersome at best and sheer nonsense at the least.

Single-payer national healthcare is the only way out for all of us. If you aren't on meds or in a care situation at this time, wait a few years and you probably will be.

Medicare is not free by the way. My premiums for medicare went to $90/month this year. Pretty hefty yearly premium for one person.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

15. I change my mother's Medicare D plan every year

because they drop coverage on stuff and raise copays etc.

You can't stay with the same one.

[WillowTree]

10. This isn't commercial insurance. It's Medicare.

[cliffordu]

12. Medicare administered (laundered) through private companies to skim a little off the top.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

14. Medicare D is through private companies

My mother has it.
Each year we change providers.
Each year they change their plans, what they'll cover, for how long they will cover it,
and how much they will pay.

Since the republicans refused to let Govt negotiate the prices of the meds,
these insurance companies make out pretty good.

The only part govt plays in this is to subsidize these slightly, but its all to the
insurance companies benefit.