How to Review Your Drug Plan
You Can Review Your Drug Plan 2 Ways:
#1
ONLINE THROUGH YOUR MEMBER PORTAL – OUR INSTRUCTIONS BELOW
#2
DIRECT BY PHONE WITH MEDICARE: 1-800-633-4227
As your MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT AGENT, we want to be able to help everyone as best we can. Unfortunately, over the years Medicare has made new guidelines that have in turn made it very difficult for us to be able to assist with the Drug Plans like we used to, which is why we have created this “Drug Plan Review How to”. This goes over how to review and enroll in a drug plan ONLINE. It also includes some tips that we have used in the past in helping you select a plan. Please note that these instructions are based off what we can see on Medicare’s website as a non-Medicare member so some things may look different within the member portal.
We recommend reviewing your Drug Plan annually even if your situation doesn’t change as the plans themselves can change from year to year.
If you are happy with your current plan, you do not need to take any action. The Carrier you are currently with will send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) booklet showing you the changes from the current year to new year. I HIGHLEY recommend reading this, as that is your ONLY notification of any changes to your current plan.
Remember, this is NOT an enrollment period for your Medicare Supplemental Plan. That will automatically roll over each year. New year premiums are sent to the MEMBER mid-late November each year.
ANY QUESTION REGARDING THE REVIEW OR APPLICATION PROCESS PLEASE CONTACT MEDICARE AT
(800) 633-4227 OR THE PLAN DIRECTLY.
THE BASICS:
- ANNUAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD: October 15th through December 7th
- WEBSITE: www.medicare.gov
- PHONE: (800) 633-4227
- Medicare is open 24/7 during this time. Best times to log on or call are early in the morning or late at night.
- Plan changes take effect January 1st.
Below is a link to Medicare’s publications regarding Drug Plans:
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/search?field_publication_category_value=Medicare+prescription+drug+coverage&field_publication_language_value=English&keywords=
Drug Plan Review - Online
1. Go to www.medicare.gov
2. Click on FIND PLANS NOW located towards the left side of the page.
3. SAVE TIME BY LOGGIN IN - It’s best to create a personal Medicare Account/log into yours if you’ve already created one, it will save your prescription list for future revisions and will speed up the application process at the end if you choose to change plans. Follow the steps in creating an account. You will need your Medicare Red, White & Blue Card handy. Once you’ve created the account you will then be able to start the review process.
4. In the Plan Type you will want to ENTER YOUR ZIP CODE then select MEDICARE DRUG PLAN (PART D) and click FIND PLANS.
5. Select “I DON’T GET HELP FROM ANY PROGRAMS”. *If you do get help & know where from you may select that.
6. Select “YES” to seeing drug cost.
7. Start entering your prescriptions one at a time. Enter NAME, click ADD DRUG, IN DROP DOWN SELECT DOSAGE, TYPE IN QUANTITY YOU GET & FREQUENCY IN THE DROP-DOWN TAB. Click “ADD TO MY DRUG LIST”.
8. Click ADD ANOTHER DRUG or DONE ADDING DRUGS. If adding more repeat steps above until all are entered. Once all drugs are entered, confirm you entered the correct info then select “DONE ADDING DRUGS”.
9. Select your top 2 pharmacies you use or would use if it was cheaper by clicking ADD PHARMACY. Then click DONE on the bottom right side of the screen.
*If you don’t see your pharmacy, you can type it in the SEARCH bar at the top.
10. Make sure the “SORT PLANS BY” is on “LOWEST DRUG + PREMIUM COST”. You will find this on the top right-hand side of the screen.
BY DOING IT THIS WAY IT WILL LIST THE PLANS IN ORDER STARTING FROM THE CHEAPEST OVERALL COST FOR YOU TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE. IT FACTORS IN DRUG COPAYS, DEDUCTIBLES & MONTHLY PREMIUMS.
11. You may look at plans individually (BY CLICKING PLAN DETAILS) or add 3 to compare side by side (BY CLICKING “ADD TO COMPARE” THEN CLICKING “COMPARE” ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN).
*Select your current plan and the one that’s listed at the top (if different) to compare each year.
Last Updated: 08/17/2023
Drug Plan Review Tips
1. Make sure your selected pharmacies are in-network. Preferred in-network will offer you the lowest copay.
2. Each plans pharmacy network, prescription formulary, prescription drug tier, copay, requirements, and deductibles are ALL different and change every year.
3. Tier 1 Generic drugs don’t apply to the deductible.
4. If you don’t fill a prescription each month only list it as much as you typically fill it. Example: 1x every 2months or 1x a year
5. Be sure to click the drop down to see the estimated cost of each prescription individually.
6. Not all drugs or dosages will be listed in the Medicare website. If one of yours isn’t run the review without it, then you may have to call the recommended plan directly to see where specific drugs fall in the formulary.
Last Updated: 08/17/2023
Ready to Apply
Once you’ve found the plan you want, look in the top right-hand side of the page for the green “ENROLL” button. Then click “JOIN PLAN”.
This should open a new screen where you will begin the online application.
* FOR CURRENT MEDICARE MEMBERS YOU CAN ONLY ENROLL DURING THE ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD 10/15 – 12/7 OF EACH YEAR. This will be the enrollment period you want to select; it typically is at the top but will only appear during the Open Enrollment tie frame.
You will then fill out the rest of the application.
Have your Medicare Red, White & Blue card available as you will need this information.
If asked: you do not nor will you have drug coverage anywhere else.
There are only 2 forms of payment when enrolling: SOCIAL SECURITY DEDUCTION (this can take up to 3 months to get setup) or COUPON BOOK (the plan will mail you the bills for the entire year at one time and you can pay them monthly).
* If you want to pay any other way you can call the plan direct once you’ve applied and change the form of payment.
At the end you will get a confirmation that it has been submitted. Be sure to print that off and keep it for your records – this will be the only way to prove that an application was submitted.
Last Updated: 08/17/2023
Post Enrollment Tips
As of January 1st you will want to make sure your pharmacy has your new ID cards.
Last Updated: 08/17/2023