Frequently Asked Questions about Choosing a Medicare Plan

Medicare prescription drug coverage is available through either stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) . . .

No, you are not required to use Walmart as your only pharmacy.  Humana Medicare Part D plans include over 50,000+ pharmacies in their pharmacy network. However, if you are enrolled in the Hum . . .

No.  Your Medicare Part D plan's Initial Deductible does not affect when you go into the Donut Hole or Coverage Gap.  However, your Initial Deductible will impact how quickly you exit the . . .

Not exactly.  You need to look beyond just the monthly premium cost - especially if you use more than just low-cost generics.  In most cases, the "best" Medicare Part D prescription drug or . . .

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses information from member satisfaction surveys, plans, and health care providers to give overall performance or "Star Ratings" to Medicare Part . . .

Our Q1Medicare® Formulary Browser includes formularies for all Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans (MAPDs) - and is packed with valuable information about . . .

Coinsurance, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is defined as: The amount you may be required to pay for services after you pay any plan deductibles. In the Original Medicare Pl . . .

You would pay your Medicare Part D plan's negotiated retail price, less the Donut Hole Discount.You can see an estimate of the cost of your medication during all phase of coverage on a particular Medi . . .

Not exactly.  A person must meet a few conditions to be eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. If you wish to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan with (MAPD) or a Medicare Advantage . . .

The  Cobrand  or Cobranding, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is defined as: Refers to the partner relationships established between Medicare Prescription Drug Plans . . .

The simple answer is:  Choose a Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage (MA or MAPD) plan that provides the most cost-effective coverage for your medication and healthcare needs. The more . . .

You and/or your prescriber can use our online Formulary Browser (https://FormularyBrowser.com) to check your Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plan's drug list (formulary) for lower-c . . .

Yes, you should still consider joining a Medicare Part D drug or Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plan even when you are not using any (or very few) prescription medications and avoid a possible long-term late-enrollment penalty should you ever need drug coverage.

Yes. Your retail drug costs (and coverage costs) can vary widely between Medicare Part D plans and between the different pharmacies used by your Medicare Part D plans - and retail prices can change on a weekly basis.

Maybe.  Medicare Prescription Drug Plans must include at least two drugs in every drug category.  Medicare Part D plans must also do the following:(1) Make sure you have convenient access to . . .

Talk to a family member, friend, or other caregiver to help you decide what drug coverage meets your needs. You may also Use the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder on medicare.gov, . . .

Co-Payment or Co-Pay is a type of cost-sharing that refers to a fixed dollar amount you pay for a medication assigned to a logical grouping or Tier of medications. Medicare Part D plans group the . . .

Yes, you can have a Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP).  The monthly premium for your Medicare Part D plan would depend on your state and the plan you select.& . . .

I do not know of a list that shows this information for every company.  If you (or any of our readers) come across such a list, please send it on to us. It would be very helpful. . . .

You can get assistance choosing a Medicare plan from a number of sources. Call a Medicare representative If you wish to speak with someone about all of your Medicare Part D and Me . . .

You can get assistance choosing a Medicare plan from a number of sources. Call a Medicare representative If you wish to speak with someone about all of your Medicare Part D and Me . . .

Yes. Your retail drug costs (and coverage costs) can vary widely between Medicare Part D plans and between the different pharmacies used by your Medicare Part D plans - and retail prices can change on a weekly basis.

Yes.  All Medicare Part D prescription plan offer the 75% Donut Hole discount - but, a few Part D plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans (MAPDs) also offer some form of additional supplementa . . .

The simple answer is:  Choose a Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage (MA or MAPD) plan that provides the most cost-effective coverage for your medication and healthcare needs. The more . . .

Not exactly.  A person must meet a few conditions to be eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. If you wish to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan with (MAPD) or a Medicare Advantage . . .

Medicare prescription drug coverage is available through either stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) . . .

No. You will find that the negotiated retail drug price for each medication may differ between every Medicare Part D plan (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage (M . . .

No, you are not required to use Walmart as your only pharmacy.  Humana Medicare Part D plans include over 50,000+ pharmacies in their pharmacy network. However, if you are enrolled in the Hum . . .

Yes, you should still consider joining a Medicare Part D drug or Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plan even when you are not using any (or very few) prescription medications and avoid a possible long-term late-enrollment penalty should you ever need drug coverage.

You and/or your prescriber can use our online Formulary Browser (https://FormularyBrowser.com) to check your Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plan's drug list (formulary) for lower-c . . .

It depends.  In some cases, if you join a Medicare drug plan, you will automatically lose all of your employer retiree health coverage - and not just your employer prescription drug coverage.&n . . .

No.  Your Medicare Part D plan's Initial Deductible does not affect when you go into the Donut Hole or Coverage Gap.  However, your Initial Deductible will impact how quickly you exit the . . .

You would pay your Medicare Part D plan's negotiated retail price, less the Donut Hole Discount.You can see an estimate of the cost of your medication during all phase of coverage on a particular Medi . . .

Yes, you can have a Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP).  The monthly premium for your Medicare Part D plan would depend on your state and the plan you select.& . . .

Our Q1Medicare® Formulary Browser includes formularies for all Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans (MAPDs) - and is packed with valuable information about . . .

Co-Insurance is a type of cost-sharing that refers to the payment of a percentage of the medication's negotiated retail drug cost that you would pay for a medication assigned to a logical grouping or . . .

Co-Payment or Co-Pay is a type of cost-sharing that refers to a fixed dollar amount you pay for a medication assigned to a logical grouping or Tier of medications. Medicare Part D plans group the . . .

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses information from member satisfaction surveys, plans, and health care providers to give overall performance or "Star Ratings" to Medicare Part . . .

Talk to a family member, friend, or other caregiver to help you decide what drug coverage meets your needs. You may also Use the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder on medicare.gov, . . .

No. You will only be able to join, and get coverage under, one Medicare drug plan at a time.(Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) . . .