Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 I will start getting my medicare in 09. What is the best and most affordable part D plan on the market. Have heard nebulizer med is paid for by part B. It is considered treatment and not medication. Also how about travel O2 and home O2 concentrater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Tony The best place to start is oddly enough on www.Medicare.gov http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/MPDPFIntro.asp?version=default & browser=IE%7C7%7CWinXP & language=English & defaultstatus=0 & pagelist=Home & ViewType=Public & PDPYear=2009 & MAPDYear=2009 & MPDPF%5FMPPF%5FIntegrate=N I hope the second link works as it will take you directly to the search tool. You can look at all plans in your area. You can enter your drugs that you are currently on and find out exactly what your costs will be. You might also check out what costs might be if you were put on a very expensive medication such as Revatio (I took my current list of prescriptions and just added it). Make sure you like the list of available pharmacies, not just in your area, but where you might travel. There is a basic list of medications that all medicare plans must provide coverage for. Some plans add a few additional drugs. The plans differ by area and by your prescriptions so there is no best and most affordable. The most widely used is probably AARP and it is the one I'm on. I did a comparison of 52 plans that were available in my area using different combinations of medications. In one set of comparisons my costs per year ranged from $3855 to $5386 (the highest was the same company that is lowest for me on my medicare supplement). AARP was $3931 on that comparison. I did another comparison as if I could switch my Nexium to generic (which I was not able to). The range was $1324 to $3781 per year. AARP was $1751. Plans vary by what the copays are and by what if anything they cover during that donut hole. In my area no plans covered anything other than generics during the donut hole. Also, any meds that are available on the Wal-Mart and other $4 plans, you need to purchase on that plan and not give them your medicare information. Last, most plans have mail order programs. With my plan mail order reduces generics from $7 to $0 and reduces non-generics from $90 per 90 days to $75. However, the total cost still counts toward sending you to the donut hole so the savings may just be a delay as your total out of pocket is what gets you out of the donut hole. >> I will start getting my medicare in 09. What is the best and most > affordable part D plan on the market. Have heard nebulizer med is paid > for by part B. It is considered treatment and not medication. Also how > about travel O2 and home O2 concentrater> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Been there checked it out, the site sucks. I want to hear what real normal people have to say about what they have found thru trial and error, not some governemnt sponsered propaganda -- In Breathe-Support , " Bruce Moreland " wrote: > > > Tony > > The best place to start is oddly enough on www.Medicare.gov > <http://www.Medicare.gov> > > http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/MPD PF\ > Intro.asp?version=default & browser=IE%7C7% 7CWinXP & language=English & defaul\ > tstatus=0 & pagelist=Home & ViewType=Public & PDPYear=2009 & MAPDYear=2009 & MPD PF\ > %5FMPPF%5FIntegrate=N > <http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/MP DP\ > FIntro.asp?version=default & browser=IE%7C7% 7CWinXP & language=English & defau\ > ltstatus=0 & pagelist=Home & ViewType=Public & PDPYear=2009 & MAPDYear=2009 & MP DP\ > F%5FMPPF%5FIntegrate=N> > <http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/MP DP\ > FIntro.asp?version=default & browser=IE%7C7% 7CWinXP & language=English & defau\ > ltstatus=0 & pagelist=Home & ViewType=Public & PDPYear=2009 & MAPDYear=2009 & MP DP\ > F%5FMPPF%5FIntegrate=N> > > I hope the second link works as it will take you directly to the search > tool. > > You can look at all plans in your area. You can enter your drugs that > you are currently on and find out exactly what your costs will be. You > might also check out what costs might be if you were put on a very > expensive medication such as Revatio (I took my current list of > prescriptions and just added it). Make sure you like the list of > available pharmacies, not just in your area, but where you might travel. > > There is a basic list of medications that all medicare plans must > provide coverage for. Some plans add a few additional drugs. > > The plans differ by area and by your prescriptions so there is no best > and most affordable. The most widely used is probably AARP and it is the > one I'm on. I did a comparison of 52 plans that were available in my > area using different combinations of medications. In one set of > comparisons my costs per year ranged from $3855 to $5386 (the highest > was the same company that is lowest for me on my medicare supplement). > AARP was $3931 on that comparison. I did another comparison as if I > could switch my Nexium to generic (which I was not able to). The range > was $1324 to $3781 per year. AARP was $1751. > > Plans vary by what the copays are and by what if anything they cover > during that donut hole. In my area no plans covered anything other than > generics during the donut hole. > > Also, any meds that are available on the Wal-Mart and other $4 plans, > you need to purchase on that plan and not give them your medicare > information. > > Last, most plans have mail order programs. With my plan mail order > reduces generics from $7 to $0 and reduces non-generics from $90 per 90 > days to $75. However, the total cost still counts toward sending you to > the donut hole so the savings may just be a delay as your total out of > pocket is what gets you out of the donut hole. > > > > > > > > > I will start getting my medicare in 09. What is the best and most > > affordable part D plan on the market. Have heard nebulizer med is paid > > for by part B. It is considered treatment and not medication. Also how > > about travel O2 and home O2 concentrater > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 AARP is what I found most people are using and so far Bruce it does seem to be the best, but thanks for the info - In Breathe-Support , " Bruce Moreland " wrote: > > > Tony > > The best place to start is oddly enough on www.Medicare.gov > <http://www.Medicare.gov> > > http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/MPD PF\ > Intro.asp?version=default & browser=IE%7C7% 7CWinXP & language=English & defaul\ > tstatus=0 & pagelist=Home & ViewType=Public & PDPYear=2009 & MAPDYear=2009 & MPD PF\ > %5FMPPF%5FIntegrate=N > <http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/MP DP\ > FIntro.asp?version=default & browser=IE%7C7% 7CWinXP & language=English & defau\ > ltstatus=0 & pagelist=Home & ViewType=Public & PDPYear=2009 & MAPDYear=2009 & MP DP\ > F%5FMPPF%5FIntegrate=N> > <http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Questions/MP DP\ > FIntro.asp?version=default & browser=IE%7C7% 7CWinXP & language=English & defau\ > ltstatus=0 & pagelist=Home & ViewType=Public & PDPYear=2009 & MAPDYear=2009 & MP DP\ > F%5FMPPF%5FIntegrate=N> > > I hope the second link works as it will take you directly to the search > tool. > > You can look at all plans in your area. You can enter your drugs that > you are currently on and find out exactly what your costs will be. You > might also check out what costs might be if you were put on a very > expensive medication such as Revatio (I took my current list of > prescriptions and just added it). Make sure you like the list of > available pharmacies, not just in your area, but where you might travel. > > There is a basic list of medications that all medicare plans must > provide coverage for. Some plans add a few additional drugs. > > The plans differ by area and by your prescriptions so there is no best > and most affordable. The most widely used is probably AARP and it is the > one I'm on. I did a comparison of 52 plans that were available in my > area using different combinations of medications. In one set of > comparisons my costs per year ranged from $3855 to $5386 (the highest > was the same company that is lowest for me on my medicare supplement). > AARP was $3931 on that comparison. I did another comparison as if I > could switch my Nexium to generic (which I was not able to). The range > was $1324 to $3781 per year. AARP was $1751. > > Plans vary by what the copays are and by what if anything they cover > during that donut hole. In my area no plans covered anything other than > generics during the donut hole. > > Also, any meds that are available on the Wal-Mart and other $4 plans, > you need to purchase on that plan and not give them your medicare > information. > > Last, most plans have mail order programs. With my plan mail order > reduces generics from $7 to $0 and reduces non-generics from $90 per 90 > days to $75. However, the total cost still counts toward sending you to > the donut hole so the savings may just be a delay as your total out of > pocket is what gets you out of the donut hole. > > > > > > > > > I will start getting my medicare in 09. What is the best and most > > affordable part D plan on the market. Have heard nebulizer med is paid > > for by part B. It is considered treatment and not medication. Also how > > about travel O2 and home O2 concentrater > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 In the time since my last post, I just went to their site and listed my updated current medication list (I do have three medications at about $300 per year not covered by any plan) and got these results. Lowest retail cost $3721 Highest retail cost $6529 Lowest mail order $3287 My current plan $3779 Retail, $4464 Mail Order. Looks like I have more work to do to make sure I'm on the best plan for me for 2009. I added Revatio just to see. Now: Lowest Retail Cost $5337 Highest Retail Cost $11072 Lowest Mail Order $5276 My current plan Retail $5889 Note that the lowest one in the first search in nowhere close in this one. Now I can purchase my Nexium from outside the US and reduce the $3721 above to $3253 by not even using my insurance on the Nexium ($3253 includes the offshore price of Nexium). But, if I were to add Revatio, then there is no benefit to purchasing Nexium offshore, just an added cost. Ok, I've confused us all enough today, but use the tool on their site. > > > > I will start getting my medicare in 09. What is the best and most > > affordable part D plan on the market. Have heard nebulizer med is paid > > for by part B. It is considered treatment and not medication. Also how > > about travel O2 and home O2 concentrater > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Tony The site gives you exact costs based on the prescriptions you enter. That is not propaganda and is far more accurate than what any of us believe the case might be. Plans change every year. I just learned by reentering my information based on your question. AARP is costing me significantly more for 2009 than a couple of other plans might. I'm not even on the best AARP plan for myself. You may think the site sucks. I think it is one of the best, most useful tools, imaginable, to be able to enter one's medications and in thirty seconds get the cost on every plan offered. > > > > > > I will start getting my medicare in 09. What is the best and most > > > affordable part D plan on the market. Have heard nebulizer med is > paid > > > for by part B. It is considered treatment and not medication. > Also how > > > about travel O2 and home O2 concentrater > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Tony you have to research part c and part d yourself what works for one person is not good for the next person one factor is the number of generic vs brand name meds that you take at the meeting with Blue Cross that I went to last week, she recommended plans based on the needs that I told her about and she explained why the medicare booklet that came to my house listed all of the plans in PA for me to choose from some people get a broker to help themPink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania Subject: Medicare Part D QuestionsTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, November 23, 2008, 11:01 AM I will start getting my medicare in 09. What is the best and most affordable part D plan on the market. Have heard nebulizer med is paid for by part B. It is considered treatment and not medication. Also how about travel O2 and home O2 concentrater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Tony, I ask the ladies at Shands right before I got medicare what plan paid the bills best for Shands.She said you'll have to shop that BUT be sure to stay with regular medicare not Advantage plans. Sothats what I did. I have AARP plan J, 140.00 per mo. AARP for plan D, 27.00 for 2008. There is a small increase for 2009 but I can't remember. AARP's web site is pretty easy.. "I" was able to go there and compare plans. lol Best of luck with this hunt.. Hope you are doing well. Wish I could help more. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida, IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Everyone on medicare may need to double check their Part D now versus some others. I started doing so after the earlier question as I should have sooner. I will probably change now for 2009. May stick with same insurer and just other plan or change insurers for Part D. To be determined. But some of the underlying pricing that impacts the donut hole as well as the premiums and copay have changed on my plan. > > Tony, I ask the ladies at Shands right before I got medicare what > plan paid the bills best for Shands. > She said you'll have to shop that BUT be sure to stay with regular > medicare not Advantage plans. So > thats what I did. I have AARP plan J, 140.00 per mo. AARP for plan > D, 27.00 for 2008. There is a small increase for 2009 but I can't > remember. AARP's web site is pretty easy.. " I " was able to go there > and compare plans. lol > Best of luck with this hunt.. Hope you are doing well. Wish I could > help more. > > > Love & Prayers, Peggy > Florida, IPF/UIP 2004 > > " I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, > when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly. " > > >  > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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