Re: Medicare

[Guest guest]

(((((((((Lori)))))))))) Grads! I am sure you are happy to have your coverage

start soon. In general medicare pays 80%. The co pay will depend on which tier

your medication is falls in. In general is goes like this: older generic are

tier 1 and are the cheapest. Tier 2 is other generics, tier 3 is name brand and

tier 4 is more expensive medications which are usually ones that are specialty

drugs. I think there is a tier 5 for ones like really expensive drugs.

Most of my meds are older ones so I $4.50 a prescription. Medicare will not

cover any anti-anxiety drugs and certain drugs were dropped off coverage this

year. I take Fioricet (Butalbital, Acetaminophen, and Caffeine Tablets), for my

chronic headaches. They stopped covering it this year. It costs me $32/month.

My ativan (for anxiety) runs me $11/month.

I have a drug supplement which helps with the cost. The plan I picked also

helps me if I hit the doughnut hole. If your total cost of medications goes

over $4,000 something you fall in that hole until you spend another $4 thousand

something. After that medicare picks so some of the cost but not as much. My

supplement will help cover some of the co-pays if I hit that hole. Luckily I

have not had to deal with that yet.

If your are 50 or over check into AARP medicare supplemental insurance. they

are very good. You can find a list of companies that provide supplemental

insurance for medical and drugs in the back of your social security book.

The government will take $95 out of your check each month for your medicare.

With the cost of the supplements, I still pay 1/2 of what it cost for me to be

on my hubby's blue shield.

If you stay on your husband's insurance, check and see how they will interface

with medicare. You may do better with your own supplement or may do better with

his insurance. I am not sure if private insurance always is considered primary.

(they will be billed first). If your medicare is primary, then it may be

costing you more to stay on your husband's policy than they are paying out.

I think you have 30 days after you start medicare to change your secondary

insurance. after that you have to wait till the open enrollment periods.

butyoudon'tlooksick.com is a great site to get more information on medicare.

I hope this helps.

gentle hugs,

Tami

--- Lori wrote:

>

> My Medicare starts in June. Have been in wicked pain and unable to go online

to read about Part D. Anyone able to summarize what it is and what I need to

do? I have insurance through hubby, but co-pays are high.

[Guest guest]

lorijkarasek@... wrote:

> My Medicare starts in June. Have been in wicked pain and unable to go online

to read about Part D. Anyone able to summarize what it is and what I need to

do? I have insurance through hubby, but co-pays are high.

>

> Many thanks,

>

>

>

Lori,

Wikipedia has the easiest read for me :

Medicare Part D is a federal program to subsidize the costs of prescription

drugs for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. It was enacted as part of

the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA)

and went into effect on January 1, 2006.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Part_D

I was on disability for after 23 months before I HAD to take Medicare premium

insurance and I was already covered under my husband's plan and they made me

drop his plan and my military prescription program continued as secondary and

the Tricare for life.

I was enrolled in Medicare A automatically but I had to chose Medicare B

(Doctors visits etc) and then when I chose Medicare B, I could have Medicare D

(which I did not need because I had Tricare prescription which co pay is 3, 9

dollars) so you need to clarify as I do not know if you have been on A & B and

why D is being awarded you and how it effects you can be under your husbands'

prescription plan and other criteria.

You need to read it all carefully and call the toll free number as they are real

help ful. Bennie

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Bennie!

>Bennie wrote:

Lori,

>Medicare Part D is a federal program to subsidize the costs of prescription

drugs for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. It was enacted as part of

the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA)

and went into effect on January 1, 2006.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Part_D

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tami!! I'm 43. Hubby has Medical Mutual family plan because we have 4

kids. Will have him look in to how to coordinate.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

I, too, will be starting on Medicare very soon (July 1st). Have been on

disability for nearly 2 years and am looking forward to paying less than my

current COBRA payment! But from all I've read, it seems that a supplemental plan

may be the best way to go for coverage with prescriptions, etc. I've contacted

some insurance companies regarding this issue and hope to find out enough info

fairly soon in order to make an educated decision.

Any info that people can pass along on our group would also be greatly

appreciated!

Thanks,

Carol

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol,

I had an AARP supplemental policy which cost me $143/mo and was

worth every penny in that it covered darned near everything that Medicare

itself didn't. Unfortunately I ran out of the necessary pennies: waaaaaaaah!

Oh I wish you the VERY best!!

love,

Helena

> Carol wrote:

> it seems that a supplemental plan may be the best way to go for coverage with

prescriptions, etc.