On January 4, 2019 the Wall Street Journal published a powerful article written by Joseph Walker and Christopher Weaver describing how Medicare Part D insurers kept $9.1 billion more in taxpayer funds than they would have had their estimates been accurate from 2006 to 2015. In the WSJ article, the writers do a deep dive […]
A client called this morning and asked this question: “Dan, I went to refill my prescription and was quoted almost double what I paid in 2018.“ Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans reset each year on January 1. What that means is the prescription drug benefit levels start over at what is called the Deductible […]
Fidelis Legacy Plan has informed thousands of Eastern New York State Medicare beneficiaries that their Medicare Advantage Flex HMO plan won’t be offered in 2019. Click Here for Copy of Notice in PDF Format. So what happens next? Individuals who don’t take action before December 31, 2018 will lose their prescription drug coverage and […]
Previously: In the first two posts in this series, Phase I: The Prescription Drug Deductible, and Phase 2: The Initial Coverage Period, I reviewed how Medicare Part D drug plan benefits reset each January 1, how Medicare Part D prescription drug plans may include a deductible amount to be paid before any medications are covered […]
In my previous post, Phase I: The Prescription Drug Deductible, I covered how Medicare Part D drug plan benefits reset each January 1. The post also described how a plan deductible amount may apply to any or only a specified group of medications. For many, depending on whether your January refills were affected by the […]
It’s early January which means Medicare Prescription Drug payment phases have just reset. And I hear this question: “Dan, I just went to refill my medication and the pharmacist quoted me a co-pay almost double what I paid in December.” Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans reset each year on January 1. What that means […]
This year’s Medicare October 15 through December 7 AEP (Annual Enrollment Period) was a busy time for me and I’m grateful for the scores of individuals and couples who permitted me to help with their 2018 Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription drug plan selection. Still, as I am fielding calls for help […]
Q: “Dan, I just received a letter stating I will have to pay a Part D late enrollment penalty next year for not having a drug plan during the months of February through December, 2017. What’s this all about?” A: “Sam, after you turned 65 in October 2016 you had individual coverage with prescription drug […]
Only a fraction of the nearly 3 million New York State residents aged 65 and older are enrolled in the state’s pharmaceutical assistance program known as New York EPIC. When I meet with New York Medicare Part D clients, I ask if their individual income is below the $75,000 threshold, $100,000 if married. If so, […]
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7, is upon us. So Sybil, from New York’s Capital Region area, asked me to review whether her Medicare Part D prescription drug plan was the best fit for her three generic and one brand name medications. After doing some research, I met […]