Re: about Medicare drug plans

[Guest guest]

Actually, regarding medications, the MassHealth site said that people

should go through their list of meds, then compare each drug

list/formulary side-by-side for cost. It seems even they admit that

there is inconsistencies in how much something cost between Medicare

and MassHealth (or whatever MassHealth changes to).

I wonder if there might be some phone numbers given out on October 15

for help lines on deciding what is best for an individual...

There are also " senior seminars " held at some hospitals that address

these types of services, maybe your local hospital's social services

might have an idea.

Take care,

RH

> > Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2005 13:02:19 -0000

> > From: " ohgminion "

> >Subject: Re: insurance covering Carnitor?

> >

> > I did of course mean the price after any discount or insurance,

who

> > cares how much it really costs, unless one has to pay that

> >

> > Here's a link to MassHealth's equivalent of a drug formulary -

they

> > call it a " drug list " and note it isn't as limiting as a

formulary:

> >

> > [...] It might be easier to type " masshealth drug list " into

Google, and

> > the first link that appears is the right one...

>

> I've found this now, thanks to all for pointers. The key to the

search is

> that point about " drug list " .

>

> > You have six weeks after October 15, 2005 to decide on which

coverage

> > you want, that's the date they list the formularies for the new

> > plans, otherwise they will randomly assign you to a plan.

> >

> > Take care,

> > RH

>

> Well, forgive me if this opens a whole can of email threads, but

does anyone

> have any tips on navigating the Medicare drug plans (pointers to the

> choices, or even better, advice or pointers to same)? I don't know,

perhaps

> the formularies will be at least somewhat Massachusetts-specific,

but my

> understanding is that the MA plans are the standard set of plans,

from the

> " new " federal legislation.

>

> For discussion purposes, let's say that we're trying to optimize

for someone

> with very little income besides SSDI, and " relatively " low meds

expense,

> i.e. nothing wildly expensive (so far). Or is it so complicated

that even

> that isn't enough information to pick a likely best plan? I'm

asking this

> for myself, of course, but I'm hoping mine is generally a common

enough

> situation to be useful to others.

>

> Steve D.