Tag: part d

Fast and Easy 2018 Part D Breakdown

Is Medicare Part D confusing? Want a fast and easy 2018 Part D breakdown … Well look no further, we can help.

2018 Medicare Part D Breakdown

All Part D Medicare drug plans work the same as far as their coverage levels, they just offer different copayments and/or deductibles.

Deductible

If your plan has a deductible, you pay the total cost of your drugs until you reach your deductible set by your plan … then you move on to the initial coverage level.

Initial Coverage Level – $3,750

During the initial coverage level you pay your copay amounts set by your plan until your total drug cost reaches $3,750. The total drug costs is the amount “you and the insurance company” pay. Then you move to the coverage gap level, or “donut hole”

Coverage Gap Level / “Donut Hole” – $5,000

During the coverage gap level, you pay either a higher copay amount, or discounts until you pay a total in out of pocket expenses of 5,000. Out of pocket expenses is just the amount “you” pay. Then you move to the catastrophic coverage level.

Catastophic Coverage Level – Unlimited

The catastrophic coverage level is where you will pay generally the least copay amount until the end of the year at which time the plan will renew.

This fast and easy 2018 Part D breakdown is not company specific. If you need a specific quote for your Medicare 2018 drug plan click here.

Only some drugs are covered under part B of Medicare, but most drugs are not. You want to make sure that you get a separate drug plan when you become “eligible” for Medicare Part D, in order to avoid the future penalty.

2016 Medicare Open Enrollment

Most people don’t realize that the 2016 Medicare Open Enrollment Dates only apply to people who are wanting to make changes to their Medicare Advantage (Part C of Medicare) and prescription drug plan (Part D of Medicare). Each year, open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. Therefore in 2016 it will begin on October 15, 2015. That is the time for you to shop around for a new Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C of Medicare) or a new Prescription Drug plan (Part D of Medicare).

So first of, to be clear, as far as enrolling in Medicare, you can do that as soon as you are eligible … no matter what month it is. Most people become eligible when they turn 65, and begin enrolling in Part B up to 3 months before their 65th birthday month.

It is only during open enrollment that you can switch from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage (Part C of Medicare), or vice versa. Also, if you find that another Medicare Advantage plan (Part C of Medicare) will fit your needs, or has a broader network, you can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan (Part C of Medicare) to another. Same with a prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D), you can switch from one plan to another during open enrollment or drop your prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D) coverage altogether. However, you may incur penalties later on if you go without a prescription drug plan (Part D of Medicare) – we would not advise this. Especially since you can get prescription drug plans (Part D of Medicare) for generally under $20 a month.

Now for people who are on a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C of Medicare), who miss the open enrollment but who just want to go back to original Medicare, there is also a Medicare Advantage disenrollment period (MADP) that runs from January 1 to February 14 each year. At that time, you could opt to switch back to original Medicare and then sign up for a prescription only plan (Medicare Part D). Most people will do this if they are going from a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C of Medicare) to a Medicare Supplement Plan.

For 2015 coverage, open enrollment is over for Medicare. Medicare Advantage (Part C of Medicare) and prescription drug plans (Medicare Part D) ended on December 7, 2014, and the Medicare Advantage disenrollment period ended on February 14, 2015. Remember, you can enroll year-round in Medicare if you are newly-eligible.

For more information or to shop plans, visit us at www.emedigap411.com  call 877-740-8683 or email.

I have Medicare, do I need to go to healthcare.gov?

All of our customers on Medicare Part A & B (or C) and possibly D are asking … “How is all this Obamacare gonna affect me?”

Well, no need to worry, you don’t need to do anything to your Medicare plan because it isn’t part of the healthcare.gov site.  If you have Medicare, you are basically already covered.

No matter how you get Medicare, whether through Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement, or through a Medicare Advantage plan, (like an HMO or PPO) you don’t have to make any changes.

If you want to shop around for a Medicare Supplement plan or Medicare Advantage plan, you will not be able to shop rates on the Marketplace (healthcare.gov) … just give us a call and we can help you with that part or go to www.eMedigap411.com

If you only have Medicare Part B, most people do not know this, but you are not considered to have minimum essential coverage.  That means you would be subject to the penalty that people who don’t have coverage may have to pay.

If you only have Medicare Part A, you are considered covered, and of course if you have Part A and Part B you are covered.

One thing has changed and that is Medicare has expanded benefits for preventive care and drug coverage.   They now have free preventive benefits, cancer screenings, and annual wellness visits.  You can also save money while in the “donut hole” with discounts on brand-name prescriptions.  (No the donut hole is not a place to eat!  It is when your total drug costs reach a certain point while you are covered under a Medicare Part D Prescription drug plan.

If you are new to Medicare, here are some things to remember:
– Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (October 15-December 7)
– To learn more about your Medicare options visit www.eMedigap411.com

If you have any family and friends who don’t have health insurance, or if they want to see what their subsidy amount might be, tell them to call us or visit www.healthreformenrollmentcenter.com