Medicare Part D FAQ
I thought I’d start compiling my knowledge about Medicare Part D here. If you have something to add, just leave it in the comments. (See also Medicare: D Is For Disaster and Medicare Prescription Drug Calculator Tutorial for the very basics.)
- When do I have to decide by?
You have until December 31, 2005 to enroll in a plan that starts January 1, 2006. But May 15, 2006 at the latest, if you’re a current Medicare beneficiary. If you become Medicare-eligible in the mean time, or after these dates, you have 7 months from your 65th birthday to enroll. - What happens if I enroll after that?
Unless you’re already in a drug coverage plan (from a pension benefit, for example) that is certied as good or better than Medicare Part D, your monthly premium can increase by at least 1 percent per month of delay. - What if I start a new drug that isn’t covered under the plan I signed up for?
Your doctor can petition for an exception. The plan has 72 hours to determine if it will grant an exception. Denials can be appealed, but it could take awhile. - Can I change my plan?
Once a year, from November 15 to December 31, you can change to a new plan. You can also change if you enter a nursing home or move to an area that your current plan doesn’t cover. - Will co-pays go up?
The plans can increase co-pays or drop coverage, but they have to give a notification 60 days in advance. Unfortunately there’s no choice but to pay this increase, although a vice president of Humana claimed this “would be unlikely,” unless a drug manufacturer started increasing the drug cost.
Sources:
Millions Face a Deadline for Choosing a New Medicare Plan
The deadline for medicare D is May 2006 There are some lastminutethings we can do.
http://recovery2000.blogsot.com
I am on SSD, and will turn 65 in January 06. I have Medicare A & B. Several years ago, for help with my prescriptions, I went directly to the various drug companies. Since I operate at or below the poverty level, I qualified for every single customer assistance program that all the various drug companies have. Astra-Zenica sends your Rx directly to your home for no charge. Lilly issues a card that makes your Rx cost about $12 or so. Since my one Rx is $250 a month, it was a fantastic deal. Best part? Not a dime of taxpayer money, no 3rd party to go thru, and last but not least, NO GENERICS!!! I happen to be one who cannot take a generic of what I need. And now with MEDICARE D? HAH! Lilly has informed me they will discontinue the direct savings program this coming May. I have no choice, I have to pick a 3rd party to pay $40 or more a month to in order to get my Rxs at a lower cost…after the deductable and before I reach the ceiling.. wish me luck! Finding one which will permit my NON generic meds is another can of worms I will have to fight like a dog over. I am so disgusted. Now, along with the mandatory $60 for Medicare A&B {which will increase to @$90 this month, negating the COLA, and giving me an actual monthly ‘raise’ of $2, count’em, TWO DOLLARS, I get to add another $40 for Part D. Wonder what I will do with the $250 per month SSD I will have left over. Golden Years… my foot.
As a disabled citizen, I live below the poverty level. I have relied, heavily, on the generosities of the pharmaceutical company’s Patient Assistance Programs at no cost to taxpayers. With the inception of Plan D, the Patient Assistance will NO longer assist me. Plan D will cost me upwards of 480.00 A MONTH. This goes hand in hand with the additional 50 I pay for medical care. This is outlandish!
As usual, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.