It’s that time of year again. No I’m not talking about turkey and ham or gifts under the tree or menorah. I’m talking about that time of year when those of us who are either on Medicare or those about to become Medicare recipients have the option of switching or adding plans.
I was talking to my Dad the other day (who unfortunately is back in the hospital once again). He has health insurance to supplement his Medicare, but it doesn’t include medication. The cost of his drugs is OUTRAGEOUS. Both my hubby and I are both on Medicare as well, but we have Medicare Advantage plans that happen to include Medicare Part D. Even though I’ve been with the same plan for the past couple of years, I still like to take the time to go over my options.
The The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Medicare Part D (Pocket Idiot’s Guides)
Unfortunately, the Medicare system (including the prescription coverage of Part D) is not an easy one to figure out. This guide witll give you the information that you need to arm yourself, including
- How to enroll and what the costs are (including monthly premiums, co-pays and the like).
- How to use the online Medicare tool to figure out exactly what each plan covers.
- A step-by-step memo of HOW to use Medicare’s website to find the BEST PLAN for you.
My hubby takes a ridiculous amount of medications and the retail on them can thousands of dollars each month. This means that we’re faced with the dreaded donut hole VERY early on in the year. After reading this book, I realized that we probably should be looking for a plan with gap coverage of some kind. I also found out that his condition is covered under the SNP’s (special needs plans for those with certain chronic illnesses). SO…this know-it-all found out that she DOESN’T know it all.
One of the nice things about this little guide is that it covers some great resources. It even gives information about purchasing drugs from Canada and how to get help paying your premiums, etc. if you can’t afford them and even how to apply for that EXTRA help
Like the other Idiot’s Guides, this one has all of the “extras” that we’ve come to expect, including
- Drug Warnings
- Drug Tips
- Definitions
- and more
Since enrollment changes for stand alone Medicare Part D plans can only be made between November 15 and December 31 each year this is a great time to pick up this little guide. At only $9.95 it could save you thousands of dollars.
The Pocket Idiot’s Guide: Medicare Part D can be purchased at Amazon.com
A special thanks to Alpha Books for providing me with a copy of this book for my book review.
Review by Broad “Z” – Zippy
THANK YOU, I NEEDED THAT!!! I read your review and ordered the book when I finnished…
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
THANK YOU, I NEEDED THAT!!! I read your review and ordered the book when I finnished…
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
I fell in the catagory of reaching my donut hole months ago but every plan I looked at had the same amount unless the cost was so high you couldn't aford it. When I got medicare three years ago I took the advantage plan and now my company tells me they are not carring this plan any more. This is with one of the largest in US. Gap ins. is too high and I can't afford it and Pres. Drug plan. If I go in the hospital I will just have to pay them payments for the rest of my life, and the President and part of Congress want to take more benifits from us? I am stopping before I have a heart attact, I can't afford that.
I fell in the catagory of reaching my donut hole months ago but every plan I looked at had the same amount unless the cost was so high you couldn't aford it. When I got medicare three years ago I took the advantage plan and now my company tells me they are not carring this plan any more. This is with one of the largest in US. Gap ins. is too high and I can't afford it and Pres. Drug plan. If I go in the hospital I will just have to pay them payments for the rest of my life, and the President and part of Congress want to take more benifits from us? I am stopping before I have a heart attact, I can't afford that.
As far as the donut hole is concerned, look into patient assistance programs that are run by the individual drug companies. My hubby's meds are OUTRAGEOUS. I went to pick one of them up last month (it was supposed to be $50 WITH patient assistance) and they told me it would be over $2100.
It seems that the only coverage THROUGH the donut hole is with generics in SOME plans (our current plan is like your grannyvon – no coverage through the gap) and yes, we have an advantage plan (we use the AARP one). There have been a LOT of changes this year and they are NOT good.
As far as the donut hole is concerned, look into patient assistance programs that are run by the individual drug companies. My hubby's meds are OUTRAGEOUS. I went to pick one of them up last month (it was supposed to be $50 WITH patient assistance) and they told me it would be over $2100.
It seems that the only coverage THROUGH the donut hole is with generics in SOME plans (our current plan is like your grannyvon – no coverage through the gap) and yes, we have an advantage plan (we use the AARP one). There have been a LOT of changes this year and they are NOT good.