7 Tips for Picking a Medicare Part D Plan

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When you add the deductible, the premium amounts for 12 months and all your copays, you will be astounded at how much you are paying and how much the insurance company is paying. The government has the audacity to "penalize" us for not buying this type of policy. This is getting more and more communist like in this country.
The real problem is that "out-of-pocket" costs are SEPARATE from the "total costs" ; therefore, you get to the donut hole real fast BECAUSE -- the insurance company gets you to the donut hole by adding ALL PAYMENTS BY EVERYONE IN ORDER TO GET TO THE DONUT HOLE AMOUNT. Once you get to the donut hole amount -- then in order to get to the $4,550.00 they ONLY add what you are paying, so it takes a long time to get to the $4,550, so you are paying premiums and getting no coverage. In addition to this insanity, when you reach $4,550, then you have to pay an ADDITIONAL $3,564.65 IN OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS BEFORE YOU CAN MOVE TO THE CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE!! No one should be buying this. I can get my drugs cheaper using the K-Mart discount programs which don't make you pay copays, deductibles or premiums. I don't think most seniors are reading the information on this. There should be such a loud outcry on this that the politicians run for cover. This is an outrage. Call and write to your newspaper and call the talk radio people and write to your local papers that have "special speakout" columns. It's time folks!!!!

C. Johnson of IN 5:42PM August 25, 2011

i really must be the dumbest senior ever, since i am unable to navigate the medicare website re: plan d. and they take adds from the ins. cos. what a scam. what is it going to be like with government healthcare? HELP!

lou of NY 10:07PM December 23, 2010

Plan D is a terrible benefit for most people. The monthly premium plus co-pays and deductibles almost guarantee the insurers are the real beneficiaries. Also, if you don't want to participate, you are surcharged at a later date for not buying it when they wanted you to. Try to find out where the penalty money goes and you only get stonewalled. I don't doubt that medication costs have increased substancially since this BENEFIT was introduced!

bob of MI 7:29PM December 21, 2010

WHAT A MESS- ADD YOUR CO-PAY TO THE COST OF THE INSURANCE PLUS POSSIBLE OTHER COST --WHO WINS --THE INSURANCE COMPANIES--THEY ARE HERE TO MAKE MONEY --AND THAT MONEY COMES FROM YOU AND YOUR SO-CALL GOVERMENT!!!

A.J SIMPSON of GA 12:50AM December 11, 2010

When my spouse became disabled and had to go on Medicare, we found that the system is very complex. In order to better understand it, we made an appointment with a specialist at our county's "office on aging." They were very helpful in developing the competencies we needed to navigate this confusing process.

G of WI 4:03PM November 30, 2010

Yes, we noticed that some drug plans for 2011 were adding deductibles. If that deductible is $350, that means you pay for your drugs 100% until you have paid $350, then your insurance starts paying their part. However, there are many, many 2011 drug plans available that DO NOT have a deductible. That is why it's so important to go to Medicare.gov and compare plans. If you don't have a computer, ask a friend or relative that does have one to help you compare plans at Medicare.gov. When you have chosen your plan, call that company and request a representative visit in your home. This is the best way to understand exactly what your chosen plan will cover.

Buena of OK 11:54AM November 30, 2010

All the government employees, including Barack should have to pay for Medicare as well and we would see how fast it would change. Also, Social Security and no government pensions.
Our health care should be FREE!!!! I am not even 66 yet, I was looking at this article for a friend.
Stop space exploration! We can't get off a plane and live on Mars so who cares. That money could treat the US citizens for free!

Snookie of FL 7:34AM November 27, 2010

I am a type 2 diabetic, and the differant terms and deductubles are aimost impossibe to understand. why cann't they just say "here it is" this is what you get, this is whats available and this is what you need. How complicated is it going to be when we get the 2500 page health care bill.

David Christensen of MN 3:02PM November 26, 2010

They have actually created another donut hole.If you look at most of the plans this year most of them have added a $350.00 duductable before you can collect.To me this is just anouther donut hole and should not be allowed.

Robert Hargrove of FL 5:12AM November 16, 2010

If you are fortunate enough to have drugs that are now generic brands, you can get them for 90 days worth for $10. at Walmart, Walgreens and CVS - CVS I believe has the same deal for $9.99. And possibly other drugstores I am not aware of. I am fortunate that only one of my drugs is not generic, but my Medicare Advantage covers 2/3rds of it, so it is affordable.
I assume that anyone who is eligible for Medicare or anyone else who is eligible,is aware that many drugs have now passed into generic brands which your doctor will tell you are just as good.
But for those whose drugs are still in the brand name stage, then they obviously do need all the financial help they can get, and I hope that closing the donut hole with the New Health Care Plan will help or at least the $250 they will receive, will.

Clementina Filosa-Morton of IA 12:03PM November 09, 2010