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Exclusive News & Information About Medicare Part D Plans: Top 10 Part D Tips, Top 10 Most Common Mistakes, And More


First things first. Since Medicare and Medicaid sound similar and both are government-sponsored healthcare programs many people confuse them. In a nutshell, the easiest way to differentiate them is MediCARE provides CARE for the elderly, while MedicAID provides Aid for the disadvantaged or low-income.

That makes the answer to the buring question, “Is it Medicare Part D or Medicaid Part D” is… MediCARE Part D. The rest of this site will focus on MediCARE Part D Prescription Drug Plans and Coverage

We interviewed several Medicare Part D experts including an attorney, pharmacist, insurance agent, and insurance policy expert. We asked them for specific and helpful guidance in unraveling the Medicare Part D Prescription Plan maze. Their candid answers, warnings, and money saving tips are essential to finding and enrolling in the right coverage and program. Below you will find:

Top 10 Tips You Must Know Before and After Enrolling In A Medicare Part D Program:

#1 Be sure to factor in co-payments and co-insurance and not just look at premiums when evaluating plans. A lower premium plan could actually cost you more over the course of the year as the amount you have to pay each time you go to the pharmacy (co-payments or co-insurance) may make the total yearly costs more than a higher monthly premium plan with lower copayments and coinsurance. Look for plans that have a cost estimator on their Websites to help you manage this process.

#2 Talk to your doctor and review your entire list of medications…even ones another physician may have prescribed. There may be medications that treat the same condition that you may be able to stop taking…or there may be generic versions that you may be able to take which are much less expensive.

#3 Check Websites to find price information about the cost of medications to see if there are other medications for your condition that might be less expensive. Many health plans have this information as well as State agency sites.

Read The Rest Of Our Exclusive Top 10 Tips To Know Before Enrolling in Medicare Part D



Top 10 Biggest Medicare Part D Mistakes:

#1 Selecting a Medicare Part D plan only without checking to see if a Medicare Private Fee for Service (PFFS) Plan that includes prescription medication cover more medical expenses and cost less than Original Medicare and Medicare Part D purchased separately. This combination plan also offers maximum yearly expenses you will have to pay…unlike Original Medicare with a Medicare Part D plan.

#2 Failing to check with your physician to make sure you still need all the medications you are taking, or if there are generic medications you might use instead of expensive brand name medications to help you postpone, or completely avoid, the "donut hole".

#3 Not anticipating medications you might need to add to your medication list. For example, your blood sugar might be borderline right now and you may not need medication if you can control it with diet and exercise. But is that realistic for you or should you see which diabetes medications are on the list of covered medications…just in case.

Read The Rest of Our Biggest Mistake List And Important Items To Avoid



Our Exclusive Interview with Medicare Experts

Question 1: Who does medicare part d benefit the most?

Answer #1 It helps those with multi drug use the most if their medications are on the approved list of coverage on the plan they accept and keeps them out of the “donut hole,” of the dollar limits of the both the plan coverage and Part D ceilings.


Question 2: What happens if you enroll in a program one year and find its the wrong program.

Answer #2 You can disenroll at set time periods and the local SHINE programs that operate as part of all city and town Council’s On Aging - very important resource.


Read The Rest of Our Exclusive Interview



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