Without a doubt, Medicare can be one of the greatest allies to keep you on the winning side against cancer—and Part D prescription drug coverage can be a key player on your winning team.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans can provide important benefits to people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Part D drug plans pay for prescriptions purchased at pharmacies, and Part D plans have helped countless Americans save money on prescriptions associated with cancer treatment.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or not, it’s important to be aware of the four phases associated with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. During the deductible stage, you’re responsible for paying any deductible your plan requires you to pay before your drug plan begins making payments for your prescription drugs. Once your deductible is met, you enter the initial coverage stage, which normally requires you to pay copayments or coinsurance. Next is the donut hole or coverage gap stage, where typically you’ll pay drug costs out of pocket. Once your total out-of-pocket costs (including your yearly deductible, copayment, and coinsurance amounts) reach the calendar year limit set by Medicare each year, you enter the catastrophic coverage stage, where you automatically get catastrophic coverage and are required to pay very little and sometimes no cost for the rest of the year.

While Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescriptions associated with cancer treatment, many cancer drugs are covered by Medicare Part B. Because Medicare Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient hospital services, Part B also covers most cancer drugs that need to be administered in a doctor’s office or medical treatment center. For example, many chemotherapy drugs and anti-nausea drugs administered intravenously in doctors’ offices or clinics are covered by Medicare Part B. Chemotherapy drugs and anti-nausea drugs taken orally as an alternative to intravenous infusions, however, are normally covered by Medicare Part B, while other cancer drugs that can only be taken orally are normally covered by Medicare Part D.

For more information about Medicare Part D and cancer, you’ll want to check out the Medicare publication, Medicare Coverage of Cancer Treatment Services. Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B), Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare supplement plans can all go a long way toward keeping you protected against cancer. If you have further questions about cancer and Medicare or any other aspect of senior healthcare, contact MedicareMall now and let us lead you with confidence through the Medicare maze!

Rx Index