QUESTION:  I am losing my Retirement Plan from my company I worked at for many years.  They are telling me that I can only choose between plans they are giving me at this insurance enrollment number.  If I use another enrollment method or get different plans from what they are offering they won’t pay for it anymore.  Can they do this?  What do I really need to be concerned about getting on Medicare?

ANSWER:  Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus!  I’m sorry for being sarcastic, but it is amazing to me that companies out there are trying to confuse people getting on Medicare.  YOU STILL HAVE CHOICES JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER AMERICAN CITIZEN WHEN THEY ARE FIRST GETTING ON MEDICARE!! What your company is really saying is…..we have made a deal with these “certain” insurance companies that if you “enroll” with them AND take out the plans “we want you to take out”  WE WILL HELP YOU PAY FOR IT.

Most people when they retire go on Medicare with no financial help.  Usually if you have retired from a company, you can afford the $100 a month, give or take a little, for premium on a MedicareSupplement/Medigap plan, which is most certainly the best coverage and what you should be offered. If you are desperate and cannot afford this premium, THEN and only THEN should you take up the offer from your employer and join a Medicare Advantage Plan.  This is INFERIOR COVERAGE AND HAS NO NETWORK OF DOCTORS OR HOSPITALS THAT WILL ACCEPT THESE PLANS. Also, they are not going to be available after 2011 anyway.  So, my “educated guess” (yes, I’m being sarcastic again)  is that since the insurance company gets paid at least twice the commission for selling you Medicare Advantage Plans, they want to get these sold as long as they can, and they make some kind of “deal” with your employer.

After 2011, you will be right back in the same spot of choosing another kind of health plan.  Please read more about Medicare Advantage Plans under the “category section” on the left side of the homepage of the blog.

What you need to do is to call a local agent that you trust, or contact us and get a comparison of Premiums on a Medicare Supplement/Medigap plan and also a comparison based on your drugs, of a Stand Alone Part D for drugs plan.  That is ALL you NEED.

Now some of you are also used to having dental and vision coverage under your retirement program.  There are no insurance plans for people on Medicare for dental and vision.  The Medicare Advantage Plans have these little teaser benefits, but nothing like you used to have and should not be a deciding factor in chosing to use a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Believe me, if there were any kind of decent vision and dental plan out there for Medicare beneficiaries, I would have found it.  There are plans you can join, BUT THE PREMIUM IS NOT WORTH THE BENEFITS, OR YOU ARE WASTING YOUR MONEY. There are plenty of salespeople out there that will sell you dental and vision plans all day long.  So just think about that…..

When picking out a Part D plan, the only thing you need to worry about is saving the most on your co-pay and premium for the first $2,830 worth of drugs you buy.  After that, you don’t need to use your drug plan at all….you NEED TO SHOP AROUND AND BUY YOUR DRUGS AT THE PLACE YOU CAN FIND THE BEST PRICE NOT USING YOUR DRUG CARD.   ALSO, BEGIN THE YEAR BY NOT BUYING YOUR GENERICS ON YOUR DRUG CARD. If you read my other blogs about “drug savings tips” you will understand how this will keep you OUT of the DREADED DONUT HOLE LONGER EACH YEAR!   The only people who should buy all their drugs on their drug plan are those that will hit the donut hole and reach the other side to the 95% coverage!!  Get past that donut hole ASAP and begin getting your 95% coverage.

So, please find yourself a comparison of Medicare Supplement/Medigap plans and a Part D Plan, based on your prescriptions and enroll on those 2 things.  You will be glad you did!!!!

Go to www.MyPartDusa.com and enter in your drugs and tell us what situation you are dealing with in the comments.  We will honestly help you understand and get the best coverage!!!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.

Many of you have lost your employer coverage recently.  We know how suddenly being thrown into the Medicare system with every insurance company sending you information on their products can be so confusing and downright overwhelming!

We have also heard that some companies and even government employees and teachers have been offered ONLY a choice of Medicare Advantage Plans.  Some companies even tell their employees that if they use a PARTICULAR INSURANCE AGENCY to take out their coverage they will get more money to help pay for it.  In other words they are steering you to use a particular insurance agency or insurance company if you want any financial help to pay for your Medicare coverage.

This is amazing!  ARE THEY REALLY TAKING AWAY YOUR CHOICES?  NO, THEY ARE NOT!

They are making you feel as though your only options are to take what they want you to take, when the truth is, when you lose coverage from your employer, you are FREE to join whatever plans you KNOW are best for you, and that is CERTAINLY NOT a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Please read my other blogs under the category section on the left hand side under MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS.

Please know that it is NOT to your advantage to choose anything other than using your Original Medicare Benefits, Part A & Part B and joining a Medicare Supplement/Medigap Plan and a stand alone Part D plan.  You may not get the extra $50 a month to help pay for it, but if you can possibly pay for a premium for a Medigap plan, you must decide to do what is in your best interests.

The main reason these companies want you to join Medicare Advantage Plans is the commission is so much higher for them.  They make more money when you join Medicare Advantage Plans.   I’ll let you wonder why your employer would only give you Medicare Advantage Plans as an option???  You can think about that.

In the year 2011, there will no longer be Medicare Advantage Plans as we know them today.  Even this year, many, many Medicare Advantage Plans have taken themselves OFF the market and many peope are losing coverage from their Medicare Advantage Plan.  The main reason for this is they have NO NETWORK OF DOCTORS  OR HOSPITALS THAT WILL TAKE THIS COVERAGE. You have no way of knowing if the doctor you have seen the past 10 years is going to accept the Medicare Advantage Plan or your preferred hospital will take the coverage.  If they do take it NOW, they can STOP taking it anytime they choose and you will be without coverage.

Tell me, WHY would you take that risk? Medicare Advantage Plans do not pay for durable medical equipment and many times your health is left up to the bean counters, not your doctor!  If you can afford the premium on a Medigap plan, why would you risk your healthcare?

So, the main point I am trying to make is do NOT feel trapped into taking whatever they throw at you.  You have the same choices as anyone else getting on Medicare coverage and you can choose to go to any agency, any website, any company that YOU CHOOSE, to find the best, most affordable coverage.

We can help you here if you are losing employer coverage to give you Medigap cost comparisons along with Part D drug plan comparisons.   We have helped thousands of GM, Whirlpool and other companies retirees…..JUST READ ALL OUR TESTIMONIALS!

GO TO www.MyPartDusa.com and enter in your meds and tell us what your concerns are about your choices today.

EVERYONE ON A MEDICARE PART D DRUG PLAN NEEDS TO GET A DRUG PLAN COMPARISON OF ALL THE PART D PLANS BEGINNING NOVEMBER 15.  YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR DRUG PLAN FOR 2010 UNTIL DECEMBER 31. THE EARLIER YOU GET YOUR COMPARISON AND MAKE YOUR DECISION THE QUICKER YOU WILL HAVE IN HAND YOUR NEW PART D DRUG CARDS WHICH GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2010.

WE WILL HAVE THOSE COMPARISONS LIVE ONLINE FOR YOU TO SEE FOR YOURSELF ON NOVEMBER 15 – DEC. 31.  YOU WILL NEED TO LIST THE MEDICATIONS YOU TAKE AND MAKE SURE YOU USE THE GENERIC NAME IF YOU TAKE A GENERIC TO GET AN ACCURATE COMPARISON.

AS YOU KNOW, ALL THE DRUG PLANS  CHANGE THE DRUGS THEY COVER AND THE CO-PAY AMOUNTS THEY CHARGE YOU EACH YEAR DURING THE ANNUAL ELECTION PERIOD OF NOV. 15 THRU DEC. 31ST.  IF YOU FAIL TO GET A NEW COMPARISON, YOU MAY BE VERY, VERY UPSET AT THE PRICES YOU ARE CHARGED AND THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO CHANGE!

IF YOU ARE LOSING YOUR DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL COVERAGE OR TURNING 65, PLEASE TELL US IN THE COMMENTS SECTION AS WE WILL NEED TO TALK WITH YOU TO EXPLAIN YOUR OPTIONS & PROVIDE YOU WITH A COMPARISON OF MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS.

IF YOU ONLY NEED A DRUG PLAN COMPARISON, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS LISTED FOR YOU ONLINE AS IT IS HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE  TO TALK TO EACH PERSON ABOUT DRUG PLANS.

THERE ARE OVER 50 DRUG PLANS  TO CHOOSE FROM IN EACH STATE ALL WITH DIFFERENT PRICES AND DRUGS THEY COVER.  WE DO THESE DRUG PLAN COMPARISONS WITH EACH OF YOUR DRUGS AND CO-PAYS LISTED SO THAT YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHICH DRUG PLAN WILL SAVE YOU THE MOST MONEY.  THIS IS A FREE SERVICE!!

MANY OF YOU WILL BE LOSING YOUR EMPLOYER COVERAGE OR LOSING YOUR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.  WE CAN HELP YOU REPLACE THIS COVERAGE AND GIVE YOU COMPARISONS OF PRICES FOR DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL COVERAGE.  THERE IS NO NEED TO PAY MORE THAN YOU NEED TO PAY!

QUESTION: MY WIFE AND I DON’T TAKE ANY MEDICATIONS SO WHY SHOULD I JOIN A PART D DRUG PLAN?  CAN’T I WAIT UNTIL WE BEGIN TO TAKE DRUGS?

ANSWER:

DO YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU WRECK YOUR CAR TO BUY CAR INSURANCE?  DO YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU GET SICK TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE?  IT IS THE SAME THING WITH A DRUG PLAN.  NO ONE CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE.  I GET CALLS ALL DURING THE YEAR THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A DISEASE AND THEY NEED EXPENSIVE MEDICATIONS, BUT THEY FAILED TO JOIN A PART D PLAN DURING THE AEP, OR ANNUAL ELECTION PERIOD.  THEN THEY ARE SO UPSET THAT THEY CANNOT GET COVERAGE FOR ALMOST ANOTHER YEAR.

ALSO, IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PART A AND/OR PART B AND DO NOT JOIN A PART D PLAN, YOU WILL HAVE A 1% PER MONTH PENALTY ADDED TO YOUR PREMIUM FOR LIFE WHENEVER YOU DO JOIN A PLAN.

QUESTION: I WANT TO COMPARE THE PLAN I HAD LAST YEAR TO THE ONES YOU LIST ON THE COMPARISON FOR ME FOR 2009.  WHY DOES MY PLAN NOT COME UP FOR ME TO SEE?

ANSWER:

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WHEN YOU GO TO WWW.MYPARTDUSA.COM AND ENTER IN YOUR DRUGS, THE TOP 5 PLANS FOR 2009 COME UP FOR YOU TO SEE BY CALCULATING THE MEDICATIONS YOU ARE TAKING.  EVERYONE’S LIST WILL BE DIFFERENT.  WE HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT PLAN YOU WERE ON LAST YEAR.  WE ONLY SHOW YOU THE ONES THAT COME UP FOR YOU TO SAVE THE MOST IN 2009.  YOU SHOULD HAVE RECIVED THE CHANGES FROM YOUR 2008 DRUG PLAN COMPANY IN THE MAIL.  YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT LETTER AND COMPARE IT TO THE NEW CHOICES FOR 2009.

QUESTION:  I already joined a Part D plan for 2009, but now I found another plan on your comparison that will cover my drugs for cheaper co-pays, can I change my drug plan again?

ANSWER:   YES, YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR DRUG PLAN AGAIN, IF YOU FIND ONE THAT IS BETTER FOR YOU.  YOU ARE NOT STUCK ON ANY DRUG PLAN UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2008.  THE DRUG PLAN YOU ARE ENROLLED IN ON THAT DATE WILL BE THE PART D DRUG PLAN YOU HAVE IN 2009.  IF YOU HAVE NOT CHECKED OUT THE NEW PRICES ON YOUR 2008 DRUG PLAN, PLEASE DO SO NOW.  IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN YOUR 2009 DRUG PLAN COMPARISON, PLEASE GO TO WWW.MYPARTDUSA.COM AND ENTER IN YOUR MEDICATIONS.  YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR PLAN FOR 2009 AND ENROLL EASILY ONLINE.

QUESTION:  My Dad has a Medicare Advantage Plan with a built in PDP or drug plan.  He has found a Part D plan that will save him more money on his drugs.  Can he keep this Advantage Plan, but choose his own Part D plan to save money?

ANSWER:  NO, IF YOUR DAD ENROLLS ON A STAND ALONE PART D DRUG PLAN HE WILL LOSE HIS DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL COVERAGE.  THE ONLY WAY YOUR DAD CAN JOIN A STAND ALONE DRUG PLAN WOULD BE TO CHANGE HIS HEALTHCARE PLAN.  HE COULD SWITCH TO A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN THAT DOES NOT HAVE A BUILT IN DRUG PLAN, OR HE COULD TRY TO QUALIFY FOR A MEDIGAP/MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLAN.  PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN CHANGING COVERAGES DURING THE AEP, SO THAT YOU DO NOT DISTURB YOUR HEALTHCARE PLANS.  IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON HOW TO COORDINATE YOUR DRUG AND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, PLEASE CONTACT US TOLL FREE AT 866-752-1795.

QUESTION: download cliffhanger proximity movie   I AM PLANNING A NEW YEARS EVE PARTY THAT MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WILL ATTEND.  THERE WILL BE COCKTAILS AND DANCING TO THE OLDIES.  THE PARTY IS GOING TO BEGIN ABOUT 8 O’CLOCK IN THE EVENING ON DECEMBER 31ST, AS WE HOPE TO STAY AWAKE LONG ENOUGH TO WATCH THE BALL DROP AT TIMES SQUARE.  I WAS HOPING I COULD JOIN A MEDICARE PART D PLAN A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE PARTY STARTS.  DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM IF I NEED TO REFILL MY PAIN MEDICATION ON JANUARY 1, 2009??

ANSWER:  IF A CHICKEN AND A HALF CAN LAY AN EGG AND A HALF IN A DAY AND A HALF, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE A GRASSHOPPER WITH A WOODEN LEG TO KICK ALL THE SEEDS OUT OF A DILL PICKLE?  PLEASE KNOW THAT THE LONGER YOU TAKE TO JOIN A PART D PLAN, THE LONGER IT WILL TAKE YOU TO RECEIVE YOUR NEW DRUG PLAN CARDS TO TAKE TO THE PHARMACY TO PURCHASE YOUR MEDICATIONS.  IF YOU WAIT UNTIL DEC. 31ST, WHETHER YOU ARE PLANNING A PARTY OR NOT, YOU WILL NOT BE IN THE SYSTEM FOR THE PHARMACY TO LOOK UP YOUR NEW DRUG PLAN INFORMATION OR CO-PAY AMOUNTS.  IF YOU CAN, EITHER GET THE REFILLS YOU KNOW YOU WILL NEED NOW IN ORDER TO LAST UNTIL YOU GET YOUR NEW DRUG CARDS, OR JOIN A PART D DRUG PLAN AT LEAST BY DECEMBER 10TH.  IT TAKES YOUR DRUG PLAN AND MEDICARE 3 WEEKS TO PROCESS YOUR NEW PART D PLAN AND GET YOUR NEW CARDS IN THE MAIL TO YOU.  I’M GLAD YOU STILL HAVE THE ENERGY AND GOOD HEALTH TO DRINK AND DANCE TO THE OLDIES, JUST BE CAREFUL!!!  YOU MAY NOT NEED THE PAIN MEDS THE NEXT DAY AFTER ALL!!

HELLO READERS:

I HAVE BEEN GETTING MANY EMAILS WITH LISTS OF DRUGS IN THEM ASKING WHICH PLAN IS BEST FOR YOU.  PLEASE GO TO WWW.MYPARTDUSA.COM OR CLICK ON “START YOUR COMPARISON NOW” ON THIS BLOG.  ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ENTER IN YOUR DRUG NAMES TO SEE YOUR COMPARISON FOR 2009.  YOUR TOP 5 PLANS WILL COME UP FOR YOU TO CHOOSE AND ENROLL IN A PLAN FOR 2009 THAT WILL SAVE YOU THE MOST MONEY.  WHEN YOU SEND ME YOUR LIST OF DRUGS IN AN EMAIL, I CANNOT DO A COMPARISON FOR YOU.  THAT IS WHY WE BUILT THE COMPARISON AND HAVE IT ONLINE SO THAT YOU COULD DO THIS YOURSELF AND MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE. AFTER YOU SEE YOUR COMPARISON, IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL ME OR CALL US TO SPEAK WITH A CONSULTANT.  WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.  MAKE SURE THAT YOU CLICK ON “MORE INFO” BELOW EACH DRUG PLAN TO FIND OUT THE SPECIAL BENEFITS OF EACH PLAN.

ALSO, PLEASE CHECK OUT THE CATAGORY SECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS BLOG.  YOU CAN CLICK ON “DRUG SAVINGS TIPS” & “DONUT HOLE HELP”.  PLEASE READ THESE BLOGS BEFORE YOU MAKE A CHOICE ON A DRUG PLAN FOR 2009.  THESE TIPS ALONE COULD KEEP YOU OUT OF THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” FOR MONTHS LONGER AND HELP YOU SAVE MORE MONEY TOO!! rumor has it download cliffhanger dvd download

I GET EMAILS EVERYDAY FROM PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT PLANS OUT THERE WILL COVER LORAZEPAM AND OTHER DRUGS THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY ON THE MEDICARE APPROVED DRUG LIST.  I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT SOME DRUG PLANS HAVE BONUS LISTS THAT THEY WILL COVER FOR YOU EVEN THOUGH MEDICARE WILL NOT, AS AN EXTRA SERVICE TO YOU.

SOME OF THESE DRUGS ARE:  HYDROCODONE, ALPRAZOLAM, PHRENILIN FORTE, DOLGIC, MEPHYTON,OXAZEPAM, TEMAZEPAM AND ZEBUTAL.

PLEASE CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER TO SPEAK WITH A CONSULTANT AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT DRUG YOU NEED TO GET COVERED.  THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND A PLAN FOR YOU THAT WILL COVER THESE “SPECIAL DRUGS”. 

TOLL FREE:  866-752-1795

DEAR READERS:

I DON’T USUALLY WRITE BLOGS ABOUT TESTIMONIALS, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE A COUPLE OF THEM THAT I GOT OVER THE WEEKEND.  IT REALLY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME WHEN I GET SOME WONDERFUL FEEDBACK AND HEARING HOW OUR ASSISTANCE HAS ACTUALLY HELPED SOMEONE.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING THESE IN TO ME:

DEAR KARYN,

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW BIG A HELP THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN!!  I HAVE SPENT HOURS, AND HOURS, DAYS AND DAYS GOING THROUGH THE 51 OR SO PART D PLANS.  THIS SITE NARROWED IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY TO 5 PLANS AFTER I ENTERED ALL MY MEDICATIONS, ETC.  I HAVE NOW PRETTY MUCH PICKED A PLAN TO ENROLL MY MOTHER.  I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT YOU EARLIER.  IT WOULD HAVE SAVED ME SO MANY DAYS AND HOURS OF FRUSTRATION.  BUT HEY – AT LEAST NOW I CAN SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.  MAY ALL GOOD FORTUNE RAIN DOWN UPON YOU!

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DEAR MY PART D USA, download gattaca

I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR HAVING SUCH WONDERFUL CONSULTANTS TO HELP US.  I USED TO WORK IN “CUSTOMER SERVICE” AND I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO HAVE SUCH EMPLOYEES.  MY CONSULTANT EXHIBITED COMPASSION, COURTESY AND KINDNESS WHILE ALL THE TIME BEING EXTREMELY EFFICIENT AND PROFESSIONAL IN MANNER.  I WAS VERY APPREHENSIVE OF THE ANNUAL ELECTION PERIOD, AS I WAS AFRAID THAT I WOULD BE OVERWHELMED WITH WHAT I CALL “INSURANCE SPEAK”.  YOU TOOK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS AS PAINLESSLY AS POSSIBLE AND EVEN WENT TO EXTRA EFFORT TO MAKE CALCULATIONS FOR ME THAT I DIDN’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PERFORM FOR MYSELF.  MY CONSULTANT ALLOWED ME TIME TO MAKE NOTES AND REPEATED THE FACTS AND FIGURES FOR ME.  I WILL BE RECOMMENDING YOUR SERVICE TO OTHERS!

VALERIE HOHENBERGER

MANY TIMES PEOPLE ONLY LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE A PROBLEM OR A COMPLAINT, SO I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE AND HUMBLED WHEN I GET THESE KINDS OF TESTIMONIALS.  THANKFULLY, I GET AT LEAST 10 OR 20 A WEEK THAT I REGULARLY POST ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BLOG.  YOU CAN READ ALL OF THEM BY CLICKING ON THE RED TESTIMONIALS BUTTON ON THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF THE BLOG. 

I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL “THANKSGIVING WEEK” AND ENJOY THIS TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  I CERTAINLY HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE THAT READ MY BLOG AND RESPOND TO ME WITH QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL,

KARYN BLAKE