There are many different kinds of American medical insurance. One such part is Medicare. Medicare is designed to provide health coverage for American seniors. Medicare is divided into four parts. These parts have been labeled A, B, C and D. Medicare part D covers prescription drugs. Those using medicare have many several different options for prescription drug coverage.
Determine whether the plan in question is a stand-alone prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with a part D benefit. This will help you understand what options the plan is designed to provide as well as who is responsible for coverage decisions.
Enhanced Plans
Figure out if the plan in question is a standard plan or an enhanced plan. Standard plans have annual deductibles. They also require enrollees to pay twenty-five percent of certain costs up to an amount that can vary from year to year. For example a plan may cover up to $2,500 in prescription costs. Once a certain limit has been reached enrollees must pay one hundred percent of the costs of the medications. For example, the enrollee has run up $4,000 in prescription costs. This continues until the beneficiary has again reached a certain plateau of costs. For example upwards of $5,000 in costs in a single year. After that is reached medication costs considered catastrophic and require minimal co-pays. This amount resets each year. An enhanced plan may cover all prescription costs.
Find out which drugs are covered and which are not. Certain plans may cover specific drugs that you are currently taking. Other plans may exclude them or ask you to substitute a generic version instead. Call your doctor. Ask your doctor if the generic version is equally effective. Plans that require you to use less expensive drugs can pass the savings along to you. Any insurance company should be able to provide you with a list of drugs that are covered and those that are excluded. If you don’t see drugs you need on the list call the company up directly and ask about the medications in question. You are allowed legally to know what is covered and what is not.
Specific Pharmacies
Learn what pharmacies you are allowed to use. Certain companies may require you to use a specific pharmacy in order to get medication refills. If the pharmacy in question is far from your house find out if alternative pharmacies or even online ordering is allowed. This can save you time as well as costs.
Calculate your exact costs. A plan representative should be able to give you a list of your expected out of pocket monthly costs. This should take into account any co-pays, annual deductibles, medications that aren’t covered as well as any expected rise in costs in the near future.
Stacy Herlihy - Stacy Mintzer Herlihy is a freelance writer based in New Jersey. When not writing for professional publications, she watches her two ...
