My Part D USA

I get asked many times everyday how we can give you a free drug plan comparison.  The Centers for Medicare sends us all the new drug plans and prices for every state each year.  Using a list of your medications that you supply for us, we do a comparison for you to find the drug plan that will cover EVERY drug you take at the lowest co-pays and premiums.  WE DO NOT GET PAID FOR DOING THIS AND YOUR ENROLLMENT GOES DIRECTLY TO MEDICARE.  We are not selling drug plans or giving you biased advice.  We simply tell you the best plan for each individual based on your medications!

1. One Way to Maximize your drug savings is to ask your Doctor to give you higher dosages on your pills. Let’s say you take 50 mgs. of Tramadol twice a day, ask your Doctor to give you 100 mg. pills that you can break in half.  You will get twice the medicine and the price remains basically the same.  CAUTION: Please be careful when cutting your pills in half to make sure you continue to get the correct dosage.  Ask your doctor for instructions.

2. Always try to take generics over brands.  HOT TIP: At least once a year go over all your prescriptions with your Doctor to make sure a generic has not been released on the medication you are taking.  This could save you hundreds of dollars.

3. IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO BUY YOUR GENERICS OFF YOUR DRUG PLAN.  YOU WILL NOT FALL INTO THE “DONUT HOLE” AS QUICKLY IF YOU FOLLOW THIS ADVICE. Wal-Mart and some other large retailers and chain pharmacies are selling generics now for only $4.  You can buy your generics from them WITHOUT USING YOUR DRUG PLAN. This will keep you OUT of the “dreaded donut hole” longer each year.  Every prescription you purchase using your drug card add up to reaching the “dreaded donut hole” and this savings tip will leave  more in the pot to pay for your expensive meds.  Click on “drug savings tips” & “donut hole help” on the left hand side of this blog under categories.  Your pharmacy may a tell you it is illegal to NOT file a claim.  The reason they say this is because they get a higher reimbursement when you use your drug plan. Tell them YOU KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! You can learn the process to make sure the pharmacy does NOT file an unwanted claim on your drug plan insurance.

4. MEDICARE REFORM: DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS WRONG WITH MEDICARE? COULD YOU COME UP WITH YOUR OWN LIST?  I’LL BET YOU COULD!  PLEASE READ OUR NEW WEBSITE AND SEND IT TO YOUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS!  CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO OUR MEDICARE SYSTEM.  GO TO:  www.Top10ThingsWrongWithMedicare.com or scroll down to that blog now.

5. When your doctor prescribes a new medication tell him you need to use SAMPLES first, or have him write a prescription for just a few days use.  You would not believe how many people get meds that they can’t take because they don’t like the side effects or it just doesn’t work for them.  When you find out if you are going to actually use a medication, THEN purchase it using your drug card. This savings using this tip alone could keep you OUT of the “dreaded donut hole” months longer, decreasing your costs.

7. In addition to asking your Doctor for free samples; tell your doctor then and there that you need to take the older tried and true medications instead of the new designer drugs that are so expensive!  We all love Sally Field, but I doubt you want to help the drug companies pay for her high salary endorsement contract.  HA!  Who pays for all the expensive advertising we all see every night on TV?  YOU, the consumer!  Tell your doctor you want to try the least expensive drugs first and see if they work for you!

6. Consider the mail order option on your drug plan. This would be good to use on your Tier 2 & Tier 3 meds. NOT GENERICS! On some plans you can order a 90 day supply of your meds for a considerable discount.  Call the customer help line for the plan you joined and ask them how to use the mail order option.

8.  If you have problems of any kind with your drug plan during the year and need help to get results, contact the Medicare Rights Center.  They have free lawyers and counselors there to assist you. www.MedicareRights.org

9. Begin every year by READING THE BLOG! As I learn more savings tips during the year I post them on the blog.  I also answer questions that are sent in about Medicare coverage and benefits.  My Part D USA’s #1 goal is to keep you informed about all aspects of Medicare issues.  It may be hard to believe in today’s dog eat dog marketplace, but we are here to HELP THE PEOPLE, not insurance companies!

10.  We always recommend that those of you who can afford the premiums on a Traditional Medicare Supplement stay on them instead of switching or choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan.  You may be approached by a salesperson telling you that MAPD plans are better than original Medicare, but they do not compare against original Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement and a stand alone Part D drug plan.  The reason for this is the commissions paid on MAPD’s are at least double than if they recommended a Medicare Supplement.  There are some folks that need a MAPD because of being on disability or have health issues and cannot get enrolled on anything else.  Please read my blogs on the differences between MAPD’s and Medicare Supplements!  Educate yourself before you enroll on health care plans.

WELCOME TO 2009!!

I hope you all have had a great beginning to 2009 and enjoyed your Holiday Seasons with family and friends…..NOW it is time to get back to business as usual.  Over the Holidays I got lots of emails questioning me about if it was legal to buy your GENERIC DRUGS OFF YOUR PART D DRUG PLAN. 

YES, YES, YES!!

I also got emails and phone calls telling me that some PHARMACIES were telling them that if they do not file all prescriptions on their Part D Plan they get a penalty from the Centers For Medicare.

NO, NO, NO!!!

FOLKS, TODAY I TALKED WITH MR. TARTELLA, Senior Compliance Officer, WITH THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE.  HE TOLD ME THAT EVERY SENIOR OR PERSON ON MEDICARE PART D PLANS CAN MAKE THE CHOICE TO FILE IT WITH THEIR PART D PLAN OR TO PAY CASH AND REQUEST IT NOT BE FILED WITH THEIR INSURANCE.  THERE IS NO PENALTY TO THE PHARMACY INVOLVED.  HIS WORDS TO ME WERE…..HOW WOULD WE FIND OUT ABOUT IT ANYWAY? 

The reason the pharmacy tells you this is that they get paid more if they file it with your Part D Plan.  IF A PHAMACIST TELLS YOU THIS, TELL HIM THAT YOU KNOW BETTER AND THAT YOU WILL TAKE YOUR BUSINESS SOMEPLACE ELSE.  NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIMS.

If you begin the year by purchasing all your GENERICS OFF YOUR PART D DRUG PLAN

, you will NOT FALL INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” AS QUICKLY IN 2009.  PLEASE   READ MY OTHER BLOGS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR PHARMACIST IS NOT FILING YOUR GENERICS ON YOUR DRUG PLAN.  Click on “DONUT HOLE HELP” catagory on the left side of this blog.  Also, I have a link that will let you know what retailer will sell you your GENERICS at the lowest price, some even sell them for $4 for a 30 day supply.

Please keep me posted as to how this goes for you!!!  You can even tell your pharmacist to read this BLOG .  My goal is to help you save the most money as possible this year on your meds.  Keep this website in your “favorites”, so you can check back to read the latest info.

QUESTION:

  I have been reading your blog and thought I would begin buying my generics off my Part D plan as you suggested, however, when I went to the pharmacy they said they could not do this because it was illegal.  Is this true, and how do I find a pharmacy that will not bill my Part D plan?

ANSWER:   Thank you for that question!  I have had many people write in and ask me this, so I called the www.MedicareRights.org and asked them if this was wrong advice or if it was illegal.  They said that just like any other insurance plan you have, like your car, home, health etc… you can file your claim with the insurance plan or NOT, it is up to you, and it is NOT illegal.  PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND GO TO THE CATAGORY SECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON “DRUG SAVINGS TIPS” AND “DONUT HOLE HELP”.  YOU WILL SEE ALL THE BLOGS ON THESE SUBJECTS SO YOU DO NOT MISS ANYTHING!!!

I have found that the Part D Plans do not like me to give out this information, as they want everyone to FALL INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” as soon as possible.  There are some pharmacies that don’t want to let you NOT file your claim on the Part D plan, because they don’t make as much money on the prescription.  However, don’t let anyone discourage you from doing this , you will just have to find a pharmacy that will take your instructions either in your town or online.  I have also had people write in telling me that they told the pharmacy NOT to file it with their Part D, and they did it anyway. 

SO, HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THE PHARMACY HAS FILED YOUR GENERIC PURCHASE WITH YOUR PART D PLAN???   I called my local Wal-Mart pharmacy and the pharmacist told me that there is a code in the upper right corner or your ticket that comes with your bag that holds the pill bottles.  If it has an abrieviated name of your drug plan, it has been billed to your plan.  If it says cash, or it is left blank you will know they didn’t file the claim as you requested.

Probably the best way to avoid confusion is to buy your “cash” purchases at one pharmacy and get your Part D prescriptions filled at another one.  This takes a little leg work, but it will be worth it.  Even though you are paying the lower co-pay amounts, your drug plan is dinging your account for $20, $30, even $40 or more for the generic, getting you closer and closer to the “dreaded donut hole”.  Also, you could order them at an online pharmacy.  Do not give them your Part D card and don’t even mention it, as it is not necessary they have this information if you are not billing your Part D plan.  If they ask you, tell them you are paying cash and not using a Part D plan.  Then make sure, by looking at your ticket, that they actually did NOT file a claim.

It is so not fair that the Part D plans can change the drugs they cover in the middle of the year or stop paying for a drug you need, when you can’t change drug plans in the middle of the year.  The drug plans were not written for the benefit of the Medicare beneficiary, but for the benefit of the insurance company.  So, you must try to make these plans work for you as best you can until we get some changes made.  Please take a few minutes and contact www.MedicareRights.org

For now, folks, this is all we have to get any kind of help to pay for our drugs.  I am just trying to help you get the most out of your plans through the year.  Remember, once you reach the “dreaded donut hole” you should not continue to buy your drugs using your Part D card.  You must shop around at that point to save the most money on your medications, because sometimes the insurance company inflates the prices to make up for the loses they incurred while you were paying the lower co-pay amounts. 

I hope that you will continue to write me with your comments and suggestions and stories of what is happening to you.  It helps everyone else to hear of your experiences.

DEAR READERS:

I JUST FOUND THE MOST AWESOME LINK TO FIND ALL THE STORES YOU CAN BUY YOUR GENERICS, NOT USING YOUR DRUG PLAN CARD.

http://www.medicare-partd.com/PartD-DrugSearchBrandGenericEquivalent.php?letter=RxSavings

YOU CAN GO TO THIS LINK AND CLICK ON THE DRUG YOU NEED TO PURCHASE.  A LIST OF STORES AND PRICING WILL COME UP FOR YOU!!  I AM THRILLED TO HAVE FOUND THIS AND HOPE THAT IT REALLY HELPS YOU SAVE MORE ON YOUR MEDICATIONS NEXT YEAR.

AS I HAVE TALKED TO YOU BEFORE DURING THE YEAR, IF YOU WILL BEGIN 2009 BY NOT PURCHASING YOUR GENERICS WITH YOUR DRUG PLAN CARD, YOU WILL STAY OUT OF THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” LONGER NEXT YEAR.  PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU TELL THE PHARMACIST NOT TO ADD THIS TO YOUR PART D PLAN.  YOU WILL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT FILE IT AGAINST YOUR PART D PLAN.  SOMETIMES THEY DO IT ANYWAY.  I HAVE WRITTEN DIRECTIONS THAT A PHARMACIST GAVE ME IN ANOTHER BLOG UNDER THE CATAGORY SECTION OF “DONUT HOLE HELP” AND “DRUG SAVINGS TIPS”.  PLEASE GO THERE ARE READ MY INSTRUCTIONS.

FIRST

, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR 2009 DRUG PLAN COMPARISON AT WWW.MYPARTDUSA.COM THEN BEGIN THE NEW YEAR BY USING ALL THE TIPS I HAVE OUTLINED FOR YOU.

PLEASE WRITE ME AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS LINK HAS BEEN A HELP TO YOU!!!

I AM GETTING SO MANY CALLS AND EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO KNOW WHEN THEY WILL FALL INTO THE DONUT HOLE AND THEY ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE YEARLY TOTALS ARE ON THE DRUG PLANS IN ORDER TO MAKE A SELECTION.

FOLKS, ALL YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IS SAVING THE MOST ON YOUR MEDICATIONS UP TO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE”.  YOU NEED TO FIND A PLAN THAT WILL SAVE YOU THE MOST ON YOUR PREMIUMS AND CO-PAYS ON THE FIRST $2,700. 

AFTER YOU HIT THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” YOUR DRUG PLAN IS USELESS……..UNLESS!!! UNLESS, YOU WILL MAKE IT TO THE 95% CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE.  THEN YOU COULD USE ANY DRUG PLAN AT ALL BECAUSE THE MAIN FOCUS WOULD BE TO GET TO THE 95% COVERAGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.  THE OUT OF POCKET LIMITS ARE ALL THE SAME ON ALL THE DRUG PLANS, SO YOU JUST NEED TO GET TO THE 95% COVERAGE FAST!

THE REST OF YOU WHO WILL FALL INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” TO NEVER GET OUT FOR THE YEAR, SHOULD STOP….STOP.….STOP USING YOUR DRUG PLAN CARD.  THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF MY SERMONS ON BUYING YOUR DRUGS ANYWHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM CHEAPER, INCLUDING ORDERING THEM FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR A LOWER PRICE!

YOUR DRUG PLAN WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO PURCHASE ALL YOUR MEDICATIONS WHILE YOU ARE IN THE DONUT HOLE USING YOUR DRUG PLAN CARD.  MANY TIMES THEY RAISE THE RETAIL PRICE TO MAKE UP FOR THEIR LOSSES WHILE YOU WERE PAYING THE LOWER CO-PAY AMOUNTS. 

MY ADVICE IS HERE TO HELP YOU MAXIMIZE YOUR SAVINGS ON DRUGS!!!  SOMETIMES THAT INCLUDES USING YOUR DRUG PLAN CARD, AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT.  WHEN YOU COMBINE THESE TWO WAYS TO SAVE MONEY, THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GO.  USE YOUR PART D DRUG PLAN FOR THE FIRST $2,700.  DO NOT BUY YOUR GENERICS ON YOUR DRUG PLAN BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2009.  THIS WILL LEAVE MORE MONEY IN THE POT TO PAY FOR YOUR MORE EXPENSIVE MEDICATIONS USING YOUR DRUG PLAN CARD.  THIS WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF THE DONUT HOLE LONGER NEXT YEAR. 

ONCE YOU HIT THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” YOU CAN PUT YOUR DRUG PLAN CARD IN A DARK PLACE.  HA!!  YOU MUST BEGIN SHOPPING AROUND FOR THE LOWEST PRICES AT THIS POINT.  YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO ORDER THEM FROM MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES TO SAVE THE MOST MONEY YOU POSSIBLY CAN. 

MY WHOLE POINT OF BEING HERE IS TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR BENEFITS, NOT TRY TO GET YOU TO BE LOYAL TO YOUR DRUG PLANS, BECAUSE YOUR DRUG PLANS ARE CERTAINLY NOT LOYAL TO YOU!!!

I HOPE NOW YOU GET THE COMPLETE PICTURE ….. I AM TRYING TO HELP YOU.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS A BETTER EXPLAINATION OF MAXIMIZING YOUR DRUG PLAN AND HELPING YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE RETAIL PRICES DURING THE DONUT HOLE ARE IRRELIVANT IN CHOOSING THE BEST PLAN FOR YOU IN 2009.

QUESTION: I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ONLINE TO FIND THE BEST PLAN FOR ME AND MY WIFE FOR 2009, WHICH ONE DO YOU RECOMMEND?

ANSWER: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS TO GET A DRUG PLAN COMPARISON BASED ON EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSONS MEDICATIONS. THE PLAN THAT IS BEST FOR YOU MAY NOT BE THE BEST ONE FOR YOUR WIFE.  NEVER JOIN A PLAN WITH ANYONE UNLESS YOU FIRST FIND OUT IF THAT PLAN WILL COVER EVERY MEDICATION YOU TAKE.  THEN, LOOK AT THE PREMIUMS AND CO-PAYS…… NEVER CHOOSE A DRUG PLAN BASED ONLY ON THE PREMIUM. MANY CHEAPER PREMIUM PLANS DO NOT HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE FORMULARY AND MAY NOT COVER THAT MANY MEDICATIONS.  YOU MUST CHOOSE A PLAN BASED ON THE CO-PAY AMOUNTS FOR YOUR DRUGS.  THAT IS WHERE THE REAL SAVINGS LIES.  YOU COULD GET A PREMIUM THAT IS ONLY $25 A MONTH BUT YOUR CO-PAYS ARE MUCH HIGHER SO THAT ANY SAVINGS YOU SEE ON THE PREMIUM WILL BE EATEN BACK UP BY THE HIGH PRICES ON THE CO-PAYS.  ALSO, YOU NEED TO CHECK THEIR MAIL ORDER PRICES.  SOME PLANS HAVE VERY GOOD DISCOUNTS FOR YOU ON MAIL ORDER.

YOU CAN USE OUR COMPARISON AT WWW.MYPARTDUSA.COM

OR YOU CAN GO TO WWW.MEDICARE.GOV AND GET THE INFO YOU NEED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION.

QUESTION:

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHEN I WILL HIT THE DONUT HOLE IN 2009.  HOW DOES THIS AFFECT WHICH DRUG PLAN I SELECT?

ANSWER: NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY YOU COULD ONLY COME UP WITH AN APPROXIMATE TIME YOU WOULD FALL INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” AT BEST, BUT PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT IF YOU FALL INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” AND KNOW YOU WILL NOT GET TO THE 95% CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE, YOU NEED TO STOP USING YOUR DRUG PLAN THE MINUTE YOU FALL INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE”. AT THIS POINT, YOU NEED TO SHOP ANYWHERE YOU CAN FIND YOUR DRUGS CHEAPER OR ORDER THEM FROM SOMEPLACE THAT HAS A LOWER PRICE.  MANY TIMES THE PRICES YOU ARE CHARGED DURING THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” WILL BE HIGHER THAN IF YOU DID NOT USE YOUR DRUG PLAN.  SO, PLEASE, SHOP AROUND!!!

QUESTION: I’VE HEARD ABOUT BUYING GENERICS OFF THE DRUG PLAN, WHY SHOULD I DO THAT WHEN I CAN GET FREE GENERICS ON MY DRUG PLAN?

ANSWER: IF YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT BE USING THE 95% CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE FOR THE YEAR…BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2009 STOP BUYING YOUR GENERICS ON YOUR DRUG PLAN

. YOU CAN GO TO WALMART OR OTHER LARGE RETAILERS AND BUY YOUR DRUGS NOT USING YOUR DRUG CARD .

THIS WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” LONGER IN 2009.  EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY BE GETTING YOUR GENERICS FREE OR AT A LOW PRICE WITH YOUR CO-PAY, YOUR DRUG PLAN DINGS YOU A MUCH HIGHER AMOUNT THAT GOES TOWARD YOUR FALLING INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE”.  YOUR DRUG PLAN MAY ACTUALLY BE CHARGING YOU $20, $30, OR $40 FOR YOUR GENERIC.

QUESTION:

WHAT DO I NEED TO BE MOST CONCERNED WITH IN CHOOSING A DRUG PLAN?

ANSWER: THE THING YOU WANT TO BE MOST CONCERNED WITH IS SAVING THE MOST MONEY POSSIBLE ON YOUR PREMIUM AND CO-PAYS UP UNTIL YOU REACH THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” AT $2,700. THEN IF YOU WILL REACH THE CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE, GET THROUGH THE DONUT HOLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, SO YOU WILL BEGIN TO GET THE 95% COVERAGE ASAP!!!

IF YOU WILL NOT EVER GET TO THE CATASTROPHIC COVERGE, YOU REALLY DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE” EXCEPT TO KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO STOP USING YOUR DRUG CARD TO MAKE PURCHASES.  REALLY, FOLKS, GO ANYWHERE YOU CAN FIND YOUR MEDS AT A LOWER PRICE.

YOU MUST CONTINUE TO PAY THE PREMIUM ON YOUR DRUG PLAN OR YOU WILL GET THE 1% PER MONTH PENALTY ADDED TO YOUR PREMIUM FOR LIFE, BUT THERE IS NO NEED TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR MEDICATIONS THAN IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!!!

PLEASE READ MY OTHER BLOGS ON HOW TO MAKE CERTAIN YOUR $4 GENERICS PURCHASED OFF YOUR DRUG PLAN DO NOT GET ADDED TO YOUR PLAN. I TALKED TO A LOCAL PHARMACIST WHO TOLD ME HOW TO DO THIS.  MANY TIMES PEOPLE WILL TELL THE PHARMACY NOT TO ADD THIS ON THEIR PLAN, BUT IT GETS ADDED TOWARD THEIR DONUT HOLE ANYWAY!!  YOU MUST FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS!!!

MY PRAYER IS THAT ONE DAY THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION WILL SEE THAT THE PART D DRUG PLANS AND THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS WERE NOT WRITTEN WITH THE MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES BEST INTERESTS IN MIND, BUT THOSE OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

PLEASE WRITE TO ME IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND I WILL TRY TO ANSWER AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.  I WILL ALSO ANSWER THEM IN THIS BLOG.  DUE TO THE NUMBERS OF EMAIL I GET EACH DAY I AM SORRY, BUT I CANNOT RESPOND TO EVERY ONE OF THEM DIRECTLY TO YOU.  BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT I CARE ABOUT EVERY PROBLEM AND CONCERN I RECEIVE AND WILL TRY MY VERY BEST TO FIND AN ANSWER FOR YOU.

THANKS TO EVERYONE OF MY READERS!!  KARYN

November 15th through December 31st is coming up fast!  We are looking forward to helping you get your FREE comparisons of Part D drug plans for 2009.

I know there is much confusion about drug plans and how they work, especially the “dreaded donut hole”.

It is funny because I am seeing that term “dreaded donut hole” other places.  I feel like I made up a new word, but that is the only way I know how to describe it.  When you are used to paying your co-pays and all of a sudden get hit with retail prices, it can wreck your budget.  The most shameful thing is that many of our Senior Citizens and people on disability cannot continue to purchase their meds after they fall into the “dreaded donut hole”, and stop taking their life sustaining medications.  I do hope that the next administration does something to help ease this problem.  If you fall into the donut hole, the first thing you should check is if you qualify for drug assistance programs.  Some of you will, but most of you will have too high an income for this help.  We have the limits listed on www.mypartdusa.com Most people do NOT fall into the donut hole, some fall in and never get out until the next year begins, and others that have serious health issues may reach the donut hole within a couple of months into the new year and get to the 95% catastrophic coverage.  No matter what catagory you fall into, there are ways to make the most of your drug plans and stay one step ahead of the drug plan companies.

I heard an analogy on Medicare Part D plans that went something like this:

A group of 10 geniuses locked themselves in a room to design a perfect racehorse.  After a few hours they emerged NOT with a racehorse, but a perfect CAMEL!  Everyone was very critical and disappointed at first….but came to realize that a camel can be a very “useful” animal, once you over the humps!

I don’t know what group of geniuses from these INSURANCE COMPANIES AND DRUG COMPANIES came up with these drug plans, but you can certainly tell they were more concerned with making money than helping people with Medicare benefits.  I try to help you get over the humps with all the drug savings tips and donut hole advice to help you MAXIMIZE what we have now for drug plans.  Please let me know if you have questions, also let me know if you have suggestions to help others.  We are all in this together!

I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OF YOU THAT HAVE TROUBLE GETTING YOUR PHARMACY NOT TO APPLY YOUR GENERICS FOR $4 TOWARD YOUR FALLING INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE.”

I CALLED MY LOCAL WALMART PHARMACIST AND ASKED HIM EXACTLY HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PURCHASE DOES NOT COUNT ON YOUR PART D DRUG PLAN:

2.  WHEN YOU PICK UP YOUR PRESCRIPTION, THERE WILL BE A TICKET ON IT.  UNDER YOUR PRESCRIPTION NUMBER YOU WILL SEE THE NAME OF YOUR DRUG PLAN IF THEY HAVE FILED IT ON YOUR DRUG PLAN.  IF THIS SPACE IS BLANK OR SAYS CASH, THEN YOU WILL KNOW THEY CARRIED OUT YOUR DIRECTIONS.  IF YOU SEE YOUR DRUG PLAN ABREVIATED NAME UNDER YOUR PRESCRIPTION NUMBER, YOU MUST TELL THEM TO CANCEL THAT TRANSACTION AND SHOW YOU WHERE THEY HAVE TAKEN IT OFF YOUR DRUG PLAN.  ONCE YOU MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU ARE SAVVY TO HOW THEY OPERATE THEY MUST NOT GO AGAINST YOUR INSTRUCTIONS.

PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THIS WHEN YOU BUY YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS OFF YOUR DRUG PLANS, EVEN IF YOU TELL THEM NOT TO FILE IT AGAINST YOUR PART D PLAN, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR TICKET.

I hope this helps you in not falling into the “dreaded donut hole” so quickly in 2009!  Please let me know how it goes for you and what problems you run into if any.  Everyone can learn from your experiences!

Remember, that if you are going to get to the 95% coverage, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY YOUR GENERICS OFF YOUR DRUG PLAN.  YOU NEED TO GET TO THE 95% COVERAGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!