There are times when the frustrating points of Medicare drug prescriptions will frustrate you beyond belief. You may want to try to quit on the entire situation because it is hard for you to find the information that you need, but you need to have your Medicare coverage. If you are trying to find your new drug on the Medicare Prescription Drug Finder you should consider the information in this article.
What you have to remember is that the Federal Government tends to move a lot slower than everything else in the business or medical world. This is part of the problem with the situation is that the drugs are placed in pharmacies and approved by Medicare long before the update the drug plan finder. This is why formulary information for new drugs should be obtained by contacting the Part D plan directly.
A plan may make a positive formulary change, such as adding an eligible Part D drug to their formulary, at any time during the plan year. If you feel as if your prescription drugs are not on the screen and should be you should contact someone with Part D in person. Do not get caught up in the frustration of the situation, just remember that you will be covered in your Medicare coverage, it will all work out for you and your family in the end.
The Medicare open enrollment cycle for existing beneficiaries occurs annually during the last six weeks of the year (November 15th through December 31st). The changes made during this time period will go into effect January 10th of the New Year.
During this time period, Medicare beneficiaries have the choice to go with traditional Medicare only, a Medicare supplement insurance plan or to sign up for a Medicare prescription drug plan.
After the beneficiary has made a decision, he or she has until March 31st to switch plans. If not change his made before this date, the plan will remain intact until the following year's open enrollment season.
Users have the ability to keep their existing Medicare Advantage plans by doing nothing. To make changes, users can enroll at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
What should you do before making a decision?
First off, be sure to review your current health and prescription drug plans. The costs for plans will change annually so you need to know your current benefits and pricing. You can then compare your existing Medicare plan with other ones to see if you can find a better choice. If you want to keep the existing plan, you do not have to do anything. It will rollover at the end of the open enrollment period.
If you decide to make a change to your health insurance plans, it is best to do it as soon as possible. This will help you avoid any confusion at your local pharmacy when the new plans go into effect in January.
When you have chosen the new plan (if you do), you should join with one of the following methods:
Sign Up with a Paper Medicare Application: The company that is handing your plan will have an application. You can fill it out and send it back by mail, fax or possibly email.
Visit the Plan Website: Find the website for the plan you have chosen and complete an online application.
Go to the Medicare Website: There are many drug plans available on the official Medicare website. There is a chance though that the plan you have chosen will not be available here so you may have to use another application choice.
You Can Call the Company Directly: If you have the phone number for the Medicare drug plan company you can normally call and enroll by phone.
Call Medicare: As a final resort, you can call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE and enroll by phone. This is by far the most difficult and time-consuming option and should be kept as a last resort.
What Information is needed to join a Medicare Drug Plan?
If you are ready to join, you will need the following items to complete your enrollment:
- Your personal information (full name, address, date of birth, etc.)
- The information on your Medicare Card
- The premium payment option
- Any other insurance information.
- Your social security number (optional)
- Your Email address (optional)
- A Name and Phone Number for an Emergency Contact
- The contact information for the nursing home or assisted living facility you reside in (if applicable)
Once you have completed the Medicare open enrollment application process, you will receive a packet of information from the company you have enrolled with. The materials they send will include a membership card, a handbook, a list of covered prescription drugs, a directory of approved pharmacies, the appeal or complaint procedure instructions and other related details of the plan.
In closing, it is important to devote some time each fall to finding the best Medicare health insurance plan for you and your significant other. No matter your ultimate choice, it is important that you compare all your options before making a final decision.
