Medicare Part D

Choosing a Prescription Drug Plan

Part D of Medicare covers prescription drugs, and anyone enrolled in Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B is eligible for this coverage, regardless of income and resources, health status, or current prescription drug expenses.

Things to Consider

If you’re currently covered only by Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B), you are the one paying your prescription drug costs. Medicare will pay for doctor- or hospital-administered drugs, but not prescriptions. Even if you’re enrolled in a Medicare supplement plan, prescription drugs aren’t covered. If you expect to have any substantial prescription drug costs, chances are you’ll want to look into prescription drug coverage.

You have two options for obtaining Medicare prescription drug coverage. You can join a Medicare prescription drug plan to add prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare, or to some Medicare Cost Plans, Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans. You can also get prescription drug coverage through most Medicare Advantage Plans, particularly Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Medicare Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs).

If you decide you’re in need of a good Medicare prescription drug plan:
Check into whether you’re eligible to receive any coverage through your current or former employer or union. If you are, call your prospective plan to learn how that plan would work with your employer or union coverage.

When investigating the cost of any prospective prescription drug plan:
Be sure to consider monthly premiums, deductibles, the cost of hospital stays, doctor visits, and any out-of-pocket costs for services. You should also ask about extra costs if you do not follow rules specific to the plan.

If you prefer to visit particular doctors and hospitals:
Make sure they accept the plan you’re considering. Whether they’re in the plan’s network or not should be another consideration because some plans require you to choose medical providers within the network. Others allow you to go outside the network for medical services, but at a higher cost.

If you’re likely to need to see specialists
Find out whether a prospective plan will require you to get referrals. Some plans have this requirement, while others do not.

If you’re thinking of moving
Check into whether a prospective plan will continue to cover you in your new location. Also check into whether your coverage will change in the new location.

For information about other things to consider when choosing a Medicare prescription drug plan, click here.

There’s lot to sift through when you set out to choose a prescription drug plan, but MedicareMall is ready to apply over two decades of experience to helping you make the best choice possible. We take every client’s unique situation into account in order to find the best Medicare prescription drug coverage for everyone.

If you’d like to know more about Medicare prescription drug plans, contact MedicareMall now and one of our licensed, bonded representatives will be happy to answer any questions and to help you find the prescription drug plan that‘s best for you and your wallet.