This month I received this wonderful thank you note from Nancy. She had recently relocated and needed to find new doctors along with a Medicare Advantage plan covering those doctors and her medications. Nancy was concerned that she would have to remain on her current plan and wait until the Annual Open Enrollment Period in […]
Category: Part D Prescription Drug

If you, a loved one, friend or neighbor has experienced “sticker shock” with your Medicare Part D prescription drug co-payment, the following case study may interest you. Earlier this week, I received this message from an Albany New York County couple: “We were talking with our neighbor Kathy about the sudden and unaffordable cost of […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Medicare Extra Help I was delighted to assist this New York based beneficiary who is on a limited income and was not aware of the Medicare Savings Program available through a New York State program for Medicare Part B premium or that Social Security offers “Extra Help” with Part D premium and prescription drug co-pay. […]

…. it’s great to hear results. Just before Thanksgiving I met with a recently widowed woman who was reeling from her loss and struggling to make sense of her health plan costs and dramatically reduced monthly income. When she disclosed her assets and monthly income, I explained to her some programs she was likely eligible for and provided assistance with the enrollment […]

New York EPIC The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program is a New York State Program that provides seniors with prescription drug assistance secondary to Medicare Part D. Members must be enrolled in a Medicare Part D drug plan. including any Medicare Advantage plan with Part D prescription drug coverage Provides secondary coverage for Medicare […]