Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Benefit Details in Plain Text |
The following Medicare Prescription Drug plan (PDP) benefits apply to the Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) (S5715 - 014) in CMS Region 22, which includes all counties in TX. This plan is administered by HCSC INSURANCE SERVICES COMPANY, a national plan provider. This means that the insurance carrier offers Medicare Part D plan in most every state. To switch to a different Medicare Prescription Drug plan or to change your location, click here. |
Click here to see the Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) prescription drug benefit details in chart format
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Plan Premium |
The Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) has a monthly premium of $26.20. That is $314.40 for 12 months. There are a few factors that can increase or decrease this premium. If you qualify for full extra help, your monthly premium will be $0. If you have a premium penalty, your premium will be higher. Or if you have a higher income you would be subject to the Income Related Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). |
Plan Membership and Plan Ratings |
The Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) (S5715 - 014) in CMS Region 22 currently has 32,107 members, and 79,602 members in the Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) nationwide. |
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has given this plan carrier a summary rating of 4.5 stars. The detail CMS plan carrier ratings are as follows:
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Prescription Drug Coverage: Deductible, Cost-sharing, Formulary |
This plan has a $320 deductible. So, you are 100% responsible for the first $320 in medication costs. After you have met the deductible, the Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) will share the costs of your medications with you -- see cost-sharing below. $320 is the maximum deductible for 2015. There are other plans with a lower deductible or even a $0 deductible for all formulary drugs. Click here to review plans with a $0 deductible. |
The following information is about the Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) formulary (or drug list). There are 2523 drugs on the Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) formulary. The Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) does offer a mail order service. Click here to browse the Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) Formulary. |
The Initial Coverage Phase (ICP) can be thought of as the cost-sharing phase of the plan. During this phase, you and the insurance company share your prescription costs. Once you have spent $320, your initial coverage phase will start. All medication are divided into tiers within the plans formulary. This helps the plan to organize and manage the prescription cost-sharing. The Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP)’s formulary is divided into 5 tiers. Every plan can name their tiers differently, and can place medications on any tier. The cost-sharing for this plan is divided as follows:
The Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP)’s Initial Coverage Limit is $2,960. When this limit is reached, you exit the Initial Coverage Phase and enter the Coverage Gap (or Donut Hole). |
The Coverage Gap, which is also known as the Donut (Doughnut) Hole is the phase of your Medicare Part D plan where
you are responsible for 100% of your medication costs. Healthcare Reform mandates that the insurance carrier pay 35% of your generic drug prescription costs in the donut hole on your behalf. The brand-name drug manufacturer will pay 50% and your plan will pay an additional 5% of the cost of your brand-name drugs purchased in the Donut Hole, for a total of 55% discount. The 50% paid by the brand-name drug manufacturer is paid on your behalf and therefore counts toward your TrOOP (or True Out-of-Pocket) costs. The portion paid by your plan, does not count toward TrOOP. Some Medicare Part D plans offer coverage during the Coverage Gap that is beyond the mandated discounts. Any drug not covered by the plan’s Gap Coverage will still receive the discounts noted above -- even if the plan has "No Gap Coverage". This plan (Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP)) offers No Coverage during the Coverage Gap phase. |