How to do a 2024 Medicare Part D Analysis

[@robinknudson3663]

... I love this group, they have made my Medicare initiation and continuation process manageable.

[@phyllisgerzich5945]

Step by step video makes navigating Medicare prescription drugs easy. Thank you, well done.

[@GiardiniMedicare]

Thanks for watching! It is luckily a quick process once you learn it

[@booskatoons]

This is so helpful, thank you!

[@GiardiniMedicare]

thanks for watching!

[@tomsko863]

Happy coincidence, I was just looking at the website last night. Since you work with so many clients, have you ever found that a client came back saying that the estimate shown on the website was incorrect and that thier out-of -pocket was much more than expected? What do you recommend to do then? At 6:11, if you click on the "Drug Costs" link, it takes you to a page. Can you explain that page? There's a section talkng about a "Donut Hole" that makes no sense.

[@GiardiniMedicare]

Good questions! We have seen the website have incorrect cost estimates. Sometimes the website is less accurate early in October when the information is first released, so if this is a concern we recommend checking the analysis again in a few weeks, or you can also do a similar analysis on the website of the insurance company whose Part D plan you are considering enrolling in to double check things. Clicking on "drug costs" takes you to the plan details section and it shows you the estimated yearly cost of each of your prescriptions at the various pharmacies you have chosen. The donut hole is a whole different animal. Here is a Medicare link for more information about it: www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/costs-in-the-coverage-gap

[@tomsko863]

@@GiardiniMedicare From your response, it seems we (the millions of people signing up for Part D) just need to be diligent, then more diligent, then every more diligent. There is no one accountable for the information on the page. If something is wrong or you can't find an answer, then oh-well. Tough titty. P.S. - 'Tough titty', said the kitty, when the milk went dry.

[@GiardiniMedicare]

@@tomsko863 Unfortunately you are correct! Luckily most of the time there are not large discrepencies on price

[@la-gl4uh]

I don't understand why there are listings for Retail Pharmacy vs Mail-In Pharmacy. Why are they both listed?

[@GiardiniMedicare]

A retail pharmacy is one you go in-person to like a CVS or a Walgreens, but mail order is when they are mailed to you using a company like express scripts. Medicare.gov lets you compare the prices using either method

[@threeftr3349]

@@GiardiniMedicare Can you your prescriptions to Mexico and get it filled there?

[@GiardiniMedicare]

@@threeftr3349 At a Mexican pharmacy? No. At least not that we are aware of.

[@8-Tryzub-8]

I don't get it. I'm enrolled in a drug plan (because of the enrollment penalty in the future), but the GoodRx price is always better. So I think I'm just wasting money.

[@GiardiniMedicare]

You can find a plan with very low premiums so that you aren't wasting money and then continue to use Goodrx if you would like

[@la-gl4uh]

Hi, how did you add GoodRX to your Part D plan?

[@user-hf7yu7uk8e]

Is there any way to know how likely a Part D insurer is to respond positively to an appeal? I have a very expensive prescription that is not on any formulary. There is no generic and even with GoodRX the cost is ridiculous. I had luck appealing it on my Advantage plan coverage but that plan is no longer available in my state.

[@GiardiniMedicare]

Very good question! Unfortunately, we don't know of a way to find which companies are likely to grant a formulary exception, but in our experience, we have not seen many consumers have issues with different Part D plans as long as their doctor properly shows why the non-covered medication is necessary. Overall, you may be better served by a plan with higher star ratings since customer satisfaction plays a role in the ratings.

[@user-hf7yu7uk8e]

Thank you! I always wondered how seriously to take the star ratings.@@GiardiniMedicare

[@GiardiniMedicare]

@@user-hf7yu7uk8e Normally we don't think it is the most important thing when choosing a plan, but if a plan has a much lower star rating than another one close in price, that might be the deciding factor in your case. Best of luck!

[@JFlocRNa]

Dumb question, looking at Wellcare for Part D as I'm only on one Tier 1 med. I usually get it filled every 3 months, 90 tabs (one daily) but Wellcare's site says QL 30 tabs in 30 days. Does that mean I have to pick up my prescription now monthly vs. every three months?

[@GiardiniMedicare]

Definitely not a dumb question! Typically, it means 30 per 30 days, so you could do a 30-day or 90-day supply as long as the 90-day supply isn't more than 90 tablets. You should be fine as long as it's not a controlled substance with an actual "dispensing limit".

[@JFlocRNa]

@@GiardiniMedicare That's what I figured, thank you. It's obviously more of an issue with controlled substances.

[@woofwoof-w4g]

Too fast for me.

[@GiardiniMedicare]

KZbin does allow you to slow down the speed of the video in case that helps!