Frequently Asked Questions about Q&A of the Day

Oct, 30 2022 — Medicare Part D prescription drug plans provide insurance coverage for your out-patient prescription drugs - and works just like any other type of insurance: (1)  Monthly premium.  You us . . .

Nov, 05 2022 — If you are eligible for Medicare and you don't have drug coverage through your employer, VA, or other source, additional prescription drug coverage is available to you through either: (1) a stand-a . . .

Nov, 13 2022 — Yes.  Medicare Part D prescription drug plans do cover the shingles vaccine (stand-alone Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage).  However, coverage (a . . .

Aug, 27 2022 — Yes.  A stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (or PDP) only provides out-patient prescription drug coverage. However, a Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage for your Or . . .

Jan, 27 2023 — Your Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) is the "boundary" between your Medicare Part D plan's Initial Coverage phase (where you and your drug plan share the cost of your drug purchases) and the Coverage Gap (where you receive a fixed 75% Donut Hole discount on formulary drugs

Dec, 19 2022 — Within 2 to 3 months.  Depending on any administrative issues, you can usually expect your Social Security check premium deductions to begin within 2 to 3 months after the start of a new Medicare . . .

Jul, 25 2022 — You can call the Social Security Administration to report the death of a Medicare beneficiary at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). As noted on the Social Security Administration site: "You . . .

Dec, 12 2022 — Your Medicare Part D late-enrollment penalty is calculated as the number of months you are without some form of "creditable" prescription drug coverage multiplied by 1% the annual base Medicare Part D . . .

Aug, 21 2022 — In general, if you were involuntarily disenrolled from your Medicare Part D plan for not paying your monthly premiums, you must show that your failure to make timely premium payments was due to uniqu . . .

Dec, 27 2022 — Sometimes your Medicare plan will not have enough time to organize the automatic premium deduction from your Social Security check, resulting in a 3+ month delay in premium payments - and instead the plan will ask that you pay the premium directly until auto deductions can begin.

Aug, 25 2022 — You will never pay more than your Medicare Part D plan's negotiated retail drug price - so even when your low-costing generic drug is placed on an expensive formulary tier - you will pay the lower retail cost and not the higher co-pay.

Sep, 01 2022 — No.  You do not need to cancel or disenroll from your existing Medicare Part D plan before enrolling in a new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. When you change Medicare Part D prescripti . . .

Aug, 02 2022 — Yes, in most cases.  When you move out of your Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage (MA or MAPD) plan's service area, you are granted a Special Enrollment Period to join another Medicare . . .

Nov, 12 2022 — Yes. If you use a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to change Medicare drug plans during the year, you will find that both the total retail value of your drug purchases and the total value of your out-of-pocket spending (TrOOP) transfer to your new Part D plan.

Aug, 28 2022 — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides the following guidance explaining how Medicare beneficiaries can receive a refund or repayment of their overpaid copayments and premiums f . . .

Aug, 02 2022 — Forever, except for a few situations.  The late-enrollment premium penalty is permanent for most people over 65 and you will pay the penalty as long as you are enrolled in a Medicare Part D presc . . .

Dec, 19 2022 — You can get a 30-day temporary or transition prescription drug fill if you: stayed with the same Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (or Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage) . . .

Sep, 06 2022 — Yes, "when [these medications are] used to treat epilepsy, cancer, or a chronic mental health disorder". A certain group of prescription medications are specifically excluded from Medicare Part D p . . .

Nov, 20 2022 — Yes.   If you are a Medicare beneficiary and your annual income (MAGI) exceeds certain limits - and you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (HMO, PPO, or PFFS) that includes prescripti . . .

Jan, 18 2023 — Not always.  If you are "Dual Eligible", qualifying for both Medicare and Medicaid, you will automatically qualify for the Medicare Part D full Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) or Extra Help program. . . .

Jan, 27 2023 — Your Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) is the "boundary" between your Medicare Part D plan's Initial Coverage phase (where you and your drug plan share the cost of your drug purchases) and the Coverage Gap (where you receive a fixed 75% Donut Hole discount on formulary drugs

Jan, 27 2023 — The initial Coverage Phase is the second part of your Medicare drug plan and follows the Initial Deductible (if your plan has a deductible). During this phase, you and your Medicare Part D plan share in the cost of your formulary drugs (for example, you pay $47 for a $500 drug).

Jan, 27 2023 — Not always.  It is always worth checking Drug Discount Card prices, but be sure to compare these discount prices to your Medicare plan's coverage cost or negotiated retail drug price and you may . . .

Jan, 23 2023 — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) periodically releases the enrollment figures for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans and we included this information in our Medicare Part . . .

Jan, 22 2023 — The Medicare Part D Extra Help or Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program helps people with limited financial resources pay for their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. If you receive Medicare Pa . . .

Jan, 18 2023 — Not always.  If you are "Dual Eligible", qualifying for both Medicare and Medicaid, you will automatically qualify for the Medicare Part D full Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) or Extra Help program. . . .

Dec, 27 2022 — Sometimes your Medicare plan will not have enough time to organize the automatic premium deduction from your Social Security check, resulting in a 3+ month delay in premium payments - and instead the plan will ask that you pay the premium directly until auto deductions can begin.

Dec, 19 2022 — Within 2 to 3 months.  Depending on any administrative issues, you can usually expect your Social Security check premium deductions to begin within 2 to 3 months after the start of a new Medicare . . .

Dec, 19 2022 — You can get a 30-day temporary or transition prescription drug fill if you: stayed with the same Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (or Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage) . . .

Dec, 12 2022 — Yes.  We have our Formulary Browser online that includes every Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formulary or drug list - and all plan formularies ar . . .

Dec, 12 2022 — Your Medicare Part D late-enrollment penalty is calculated as the number of months you are without some form of "creditable" prescription drug coverage multiplied by 1% the annual base Medicare Part D . . .

Dec, 12 2022 — Your monthly Medicare Part D IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) charges will be deducted automatically from your Social Security check, or . . . . . . If the amount of your Social Sec . . .

Nov, 29 2022 — If you have recently enrolled in a Medicare plan and still have not received your new Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan Member ID card, please contact your Medicare plan’s Member Serv . . .

Nov, 23 2022 — No.  If you wish to stay in your current Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, you do not need to do anything during the annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) and you will be automatically re . . .

Nov, 20 2022 — In general, "creditable" prescription drug coverage is considered by Medicare to be "as generous as, or more generous than" (or at least as good as) standard Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage . . .

Nov, 20 2022 — Yes.   If you are a Medicare beneficiary and your annual income (MAGI) exceeds certain limits - and you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (HMO, PPO, or PFFS) that includes prescripti . . .

Nov, 20 2022 — No.  You are not responsible for a late-enrollment penalty (LEP) if you are now eligible for the Medicare Part D Extra Help or Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program.   However, you may still . . .

Nov, 13 2022 — Yes. Even though Medicare plans sanctioned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are not allowed to accept new enrollment, Q1Medicare® shows “sanctioned” Medicare pl . . .

Nov, 13 2022 — If you are enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan sanctioned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), your Medicare plan coverage is not usually affected by . . .

Nov, 13 2022 — Yes.  Medicare Part D prescription drug plans do cover the shingles vaccine (stand-alone Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage).  However, coverage (a . . .