Guest guest Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Yikes! I just got the new handbook on choosing a Medicare Rx drug coverage plan. There are dozens of 'em and given the info I've gotten so far from a few of 'em, it looks like my cost of living is about to go way up. I have Medicaid, too, so I won't pay a premium, but I'm on a lot of meds and at least one is not available in generic form. My co-pays will cost more--maybe a lot more--than they did when Medicaid paid for my meds. Anyone have any informed opinions or inside scoop regarding the best way to find the lowest cost plan without spending the whole next month doing nothing but research on this? Thanks, Shayna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Shayna I am not at that point just yet, but they have been advertising on TV in this area about a non-profit who helps with your question. I'm sorry I don't know that name, but will pay attention next time it is on. laurie > Yikes! I just got the new handbook on choosing a Medicare Rx drug > coverage plan. There are dozens of 'em and given the info I've gotten > so far from a few of 'em, it looks like my cost of living is about to > go way up. I have Medicaid, too, so I won't pay a premium, but I'm on > a lot of meds and at least one is not available in generic form. My > co-pays will cost more--maybe a lot more--than they did when Medicaid > paid for my meds. Anyone have any informed opinions or inside scoop > regarding the best way to find the lowest cost plan without spending > the whole next month doing nothing but research on this? > Thanks, > Shayna > > > > > > > > > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment. > > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Thank you, Laurie. The plans vary from state to state so they might or might not be able to help in my state, but it's worth checking out. Late yesterday afternoon I thought to call my congressman. His office referred me to a pharmacy school that has offered to help. I will call them today to see how it goes. > > Yikes! I just got the new handbook on choosing a Medicare Rx drug > > coverage plan. There are dozens of 'em and given the info I've gotten > > so far from a few of 'em, it looks like my cost of living is about to > > go way up. I have Medicaid, too, so I won't pay a premium, but I'm on > > a lot of meds and at least one is not available in generic form. My > > co-pays will cost more--maybe a lot more--than they did when Medicaid > > paid for my meds. Anyone have any informed opinions or inside scoop > > regarding the best way to find the lowest cost plan without spending > > the whole next month doing nothing but research on this? > > Thanks, > > Shayna > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment. > > > > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 For Shayna: What State do you live in, I am in Topeka, Kansas and also would like to find a way to get more info. Thanks, Dolores shaynapearl happyclam8@...> wrote:Thank you, Laurie. The plans vary from state to state so they might or might not be able to help in my state, but it's worth checking out. Late yesterday afternoon I thought to call my congressman. His office referred me to a pharmacy school that has offered to help. I will call them today to see how it goes. > > Yikes! I just got the new handbook on choosing a Medicare Rx drug > > coverage plan. There are dozens of 'em and given the info I've gotten > > so far from a few of 'em, it looks like my cost of living is about to > > go way up. I have Medicaid, too, so I won't pay a premium, but I'm on > > a lot of meds and at least one is not available in generic form. My > > co-pays will cost more--maybe a lot more--than they did when Medicaid > > paid for my meds. Anyone have any informed opinions or inside scoop > > regarding the best way to find the lowest cost plan without spending > > the whole next month doing nothing but research on this? > > Thanks, > > Shayna > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment. > > > > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Hi Dolores, I'm in Massachusetts. It's not clear to me that there's a way for people from different states to pool their data. I'll try to find out. There are a couple of health advocacy groups I can talk to and my congressman may have a broader picture. I'll keep you posted and would love to hear from you and others if you find anything relevant to all states. One thing I know is that here in MA, and perhaps universally, if you're on Medicaid as well as Medicare, many or even all plans will exempt you from Medicare premiums for rx drug benefits. Yet, that still leaves us trying to figure out which plans cover which prescriptions and whether our own regular and anticipated expenses make it worth paying high deductibles for lower co pays or not. In my state, there are dozens of plans to compare. It doesn't seem to be an apples-to-apples thing. Should we all get honorary degrees in management or budgeting or something? Best, Shayna > > > Yikes! I just got the new handbook on choosing a Medicare Rx drug > > > coverage plan. There are dozens of 'em and given the info I've > gotten > > > so far from a few of 'em, it looks like my cost of living is > about to > > > go way up. I have Medicaid, too, so I won't pay a premium, but > I'm on > > > a lot of meds and at least one is not available in generic > form. My > > > co-pays will cost more--maybe a lot more--than they did when > Medicaid > > > paid for my meds. Anyone have any informed opinions or inside > scoop > > > regarding the best way to find the lowest cost plan without > spending > > > the whole next month doing nothing but research on this? > > > Thanks, > > > Shayna > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements > contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. > The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content. > List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the > content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding > changes in their own treatment. > > > > > > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who > sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the > severity of the attack. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2005 Report Share Posted October 23, 2005 If you're on Medicaid due to disability or retirement, this may apply: I think it was on the Social Security web page that I saw reference to help from the government, paying not only Medicare Part D (Drug Benefit) premiums, but also the resulting co-payments. This is of course subject to income and/or assets tests. BTW here's a rant on various of these asset-based tests (the one above, or SSI for instance). It's nice, I suppose, that the assets don't count primary residence or car. But they also don't figure NET worth. In other words, if you have considerable debt, making your NET assets very negative, that's irrelevant. All they care about is your current income and your current bank accounts. Makes me want to take my lump-sum SSDI back payment, if/when I ever finally actually get it, and immediately pay down enough of my huge debts to make me LOOK (by these tests) nearly penniless again. Which is insane to me, since I actually AM negatively way beyond penniless already, either way you look at it, whether I pay off these debts now, or not. I know, it's prudent and ultimately cheaper to pay off some debt, to save on the interest cost. But I sure would like to hang onto a LITTLE capital for emergencies. But the SSI limit is around $2000 for assets if I remember right, which implies a scary marginal existence...with today's rent, food, and gas prices, this is just one little step away from homelessness. A safety net, I suppose, but one that is way down, near the end of a long fall. Steve D. > Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 11:11:59 -0000 > > Subject: Re: Medicare Rx Plans > > Thank you, Laurie. The plans vary from state to state so they might > or might not be able to help in my state, but it's worth checking > out. Late yesterday afternoon I thought to call my congressman. > His office referred me to a pharmacy school that has offered to > help. I will call them today to see how it goes. > > > >> > Yikes! I just got the new handbook on choosing a Medicare Rx drug >> > coverage plan. There are dozens of 'em and given the info I've > gotten >> > so far from a few of 'em, it looks like my cost of living is > about to >> > go way up. I have Medicaid, too, so I won't pay a premium, but > I'm on >> > a lot of meds and at least one is not available in generic > form. My >> > co-pays will cost more--maybe a lot more--than they did when > Medicaid >> > paid for my meds. Anyone have any informed opinions or inside > scoop >> > regarding the best way to find the lowest cost plan without > spending >> > the whole next month doing nothing but research on this? >> > Thanks, >> > Shayna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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