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Where can I get help choosing a Medicare Part D plan?

Category: Choosing a Medicare Plan
Updated: May, 05 2023
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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 Medicare Advantage plan options, then call a Medicare representative at 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-Medicare).

    Medicare representatives provide an unbiased perspective of all Medicare plans in your area and you can get a good estimate of your annual drug costs at local pharmacies.  If you are considering a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare representative can provide an overview of  healthcare coverage .  A Medicare representative is available 7 days per week and 24 hours a day and can process your enrollment into any available Medicare plan over the telephone.

  • Visit the Medicare.gov Plan Finder (or MyMedicare.gov)

    The federal government provides an online plan finder tool that will help you review your Medicare plan options.  The tool is very comprehensive, allowing you to enter your financial assistance status, your prescription drugs, your pharmacies, and review plans by annual estimated cost.  You also have the option of comparing plan options online and printing your results.  Some people find the Plan Finder difficult to use due to the vast amount of information provided by the tool.  If you feel the Plan Finder is too complex for you, then you can speak with a Medicare representative as mentioned above.

  • Call or visit a SHIP counselor

    State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) volunteers are available to provide an unbiased overview all Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans and can even help you complete your enrollment applications.  SHIP representatives are also well trained and have a great deal of experience working with Medicare beneficiaries.  If you do not have a local SHIP office, you can also visit a local Council on Aging or senior center for assistance or a recommendation of further help.  You can contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) by calling toll-free 1-877-839-2675.

  • Speak or visit with an Insurance Agent

    Insurance agents are well trained to know their Medicare plan's coverage in detail and can provide a personal understanding of their products that you may not find from an online tool.  Many people work with the same agent over the years and like the idea of being able to actually know the person who enrolled them into their plan.  Insurance agents who market Medicare products must participate in annual training to stay well-informed and their marketing activities are highly regulated by the state and federal government.  You can find insurance agents in your area by visiting an agent's local office, looking in the phone book, or asking a friend for a referral.  Often the same person who provides your auto or home insurance also offers Medicare plans or can help you find an agent who represents Medicare plans.



  • Try our Q1Medicare.com tools

    Our Q1Medicare® site offers many tools to help you review Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans. 

    A state-by-state overview of Medicare Part D plans:  To start, you can use our State Overview pages for highlights of available Medicare Part D plans: https://q1medicare.com/PartD-Medicare-PartD-Overview-by-State.php.

    Medicare Part D prescription drug (PDP) Plan Finder:  We also have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan overview tool so you can review all available stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans based on monthly premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing – as well as, which plans provide full Medicare/Medicaid extra help: see our Medicare Part D Plan Finder at  PDP-Finder.com - just begin by choosing your state.

    Medicare Advantage Plan Finder:  If you are looking for a Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage), you can use our Medicare Advantage Plan Finder to see all Medicare plans in your area: MA-Finder.com - just begin by entering your Zip Code.

    Formulary Browser:  We also have all Medicare Part D prescription drug plan formularies (drug lists) online and your can browse each formulary alphabetically. To review any Medicare plan's drug list or formulary, see our Formulary Browser: FormularyBrowser.com

    Q1Rx® Drug Finder:  Our Drug Finder shows the availability and coverage of each drug across all Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans in your area.  For example, you may wish to see how all Medicare Part D plans in Florida cover the generic drug Atorvastatin 10mg.  To compare Medicare plan coverage of a particular prescription, please see our Drug Finder: Q1Rx.com.
You can also learn more about Part D plan selection at:
https://q1medicare.com/PartD-How-to-Choose-MedicarePartD-Plan.php

and

https://q1medicare.com/PartD-PreparingFor-Your-PartD-Decision.php


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Tips & Disclaimers
  • Q1Medicare®, Q1Rx®, and Q1Group® are registered Service Marks of Q1Group LLC and may not be used in any advertising, publicity, or for commercial purposes without the express authorization of Q1Group.
  • The Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan data on our site comes directly from Medicare and is subject to change.
  • Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information on our site.
  • We provide our Q1Medicare.com site for educational purposes and strive to present unbiased and accurate information. However, Q1Medicare is not intended as a substitute for your lawyer, doctor, healthcare provider, financial advisor, or pharmacist. For more information on your Medicare coverage, please be sure to seek legal, medical, pharmaceutical, or financial advice from a licensed professional or telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
  • We are an independent education, research, and technology company. We are not affiliated with any Medicare plan, plan carrier, healthcare provider, or insurance company. We are not compensated for Medicare plan enrollments. We do not sell leads or share your personal information.
  • Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Our PDPCompare.com and MACompare.com provide highlights of annual plan benefit changes.
  • The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan.
  • Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.
  • We make every effort to show all available Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans in your service area. However, since our data is provided by Medicare, it is possible that this may not be a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.
    Statement required by Medicare:
    "We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options."
  • When enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
  • Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.
  • Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) are considered Medicare Part D plans and members with higher incomes may be subject to the Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), just as members in stand-alone Part D plans. In certain situations, you can appeal IRMAA.
  • You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Members may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only during specific times of the year. Contact the Medicare plan for more information.
  • If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.
  • Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.
  • A Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan (PFFS) is not a Medicare supplement plan. Providers who do not contract with the plan are not required to see you except in an emergency.
  • Disclaimer for Institutional Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who meets the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) level of care and resides in a nursing home.
  • Disclaimer for Dual Eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details.
  • Disclaimer for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with the plan specific Chronic Condition.
  • Medicare MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a trust or custodial savings account (as defined and/or approved by the IRS). The plan deposits money from Medicare into the account. You can use this money to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible. The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount, so you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.
  • Medicare MSA Plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you join a Medicare MSA Plan, you can also join any separate (stand-alone) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
  • There are additional restrictions to join an MSA plan, and enrollment is generally for a full calendar year unless you meet certain exceptions. Those who disenroll during the calendar year will owe a portion of the account deposit back to the plan. Contact the plan provider for additional information.
  • Medicare beneficiaries may enroll through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at www.medicare.gov.
  • Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the medicare.gov site. Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.
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