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Do you provide a system where we can enter a list of drugs, save them, and then compare the annual costs for each Medicare Part D plan?

Category: Online Tool Tips
Updated: Oct, 23 2023


No.  We designed our Q1Medicare drug search tools for people who wish to quickly check the coverage of a single formulary medication across all Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPD).  Our Drug Finder is located at Q1Rx.com.

Here is a screenshot of our Drug Finder showing coverage for the drug 10 mg Atorvastatin on all 2016 California Medicare Part D plans (PDPs).
 
151030_Drug_Finder.jpg


We also provide a Formulary Browser that allows people to see all the drugs covered by a specific Medicare prescription drug plan.  Our Formulary Browser can be found at Formulary-Browser.com or using the "Browse Formulary" link on our Medicare Part D Plan Finder or Medicare Advantage Plan Finder.

Here is a screenshot of our Formulary Browser listing all drugs covered by the 2016 Florida AARP MedicareRx Preferred Medicare Part D plan (PDP).

151030_Formulary_Browser.jpg




Remember: No online tool can guarantee an accurate estimate of your annual Medicare Part D costs.

  • Drug List Changes: Medicare Part D plans are allowed to change their formularies or drug lists throughout the plan year and can substitute generic medications for brand name drugs as the generics become available. To clarify, Medicare Part D plans are not allowed to drop a medication that you are using, but they are allowed to substitute a generic equivalent for your brand name drug.
     
  • Retail Price Changes: Drug prices can change throughout the plan year and even though you are "locked in" to your plan through December 31, your plan can raise the price of your medications.  If you have a fixed co-pay ($30 per 30 pills), you may not notice the changes immediately.  If you have cost-sharing in the form of co-insurance (25% of retail) you may notice that your cost-sharing will increase during the year and not resemble the drug cost estimate you had in October of the previous year.
     
  • Purchasing your drugs.  Even the order in which you purchase your medications (or the order in which your drug claims are processed) will affect your total annual drug spending.  If you purchase an expensive medication as the first drug purchase of the plan year, you may go though your entire coverage and into the Donut Hole or Coverage Gap before you can purchase other medications.  You can read more in our section on Straddle Claims: q1medicare.com/faq/category/straddle-claims/121/

Using the Medicare.gov site to "estimate" annual prescription drug cost

Since drug prices and drug availability can change throughout the plan year, only Medicare (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or CMS) maintains the most current drug and pricing data.  This means only Medicare can provides the most accurate estimate of your annual drug costs (and again, your estimate in October may not reflect what you actually spend in May of the next year).

To get started, you can enter and save your medication list on the www.Medicare.gov plan finder website found at https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx where you are able to enter multiple medications, see generic alternatives, and view an annual cost estimate at different area pharmacies.

If you have any difficulty, we also provide an online tutorial to help you use the Medicare.gov Plan Finder:
q1medicare.com/PartD-Medicare_PartDPlanFinderTutorial.php

To make life easier, you can also speak with a Medicare representative to get information on all Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan options.  To contact Medicare directly please call toll-free 1-800-633-4227, select the prescription drug option, and then choose the option to speak with a Medicare representative or say "representative" several times during the automated menu options.

Once connected, please explain your situation to a Medicare representative and ask the Medicare representative to help you find a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan that most economically covers your health and medication needs - or you can ask specific questions about a particular Medicare plan.

As you review plan options, you can ask the representative to provide you with an estimated annual cost based on your health and medication needs for any particular Medicare plan.

Preferred Pharmacy Pricing
You can also make sure that the Medicare representative knows about the pharmacies you use or have available (and explains to you about the possible cost differences between preferred and non-preferred or standard network pharmacies).

Healthcare Providers
If you are enrolling into a Medicare Advantage plan, please be sure that your healthcare providers are included in the plan's network (you can contact the Medicare Advantage plan directly for more details).  Remember, Medicare Advantage plans are allowed to drop providers from their network during the plan year.  Please see: "Can I get a Special Enrollment Period if my Medicare Advantage plan drops my doctor from the plan's network?"

Enrolling in your chosen plan
If you have found an acceptable Medicare plan, and you are eligible for enrollment, the Medicare representative can also process your enrollment into any Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan directly over the telephone - and the process only takes a few minutes (with an enrollment confirmation code provided - that you should write down and store in a safe place until your Medicare plan information arrives).

Medicare.gov provides unbiased information
Please note that a Medicare representative is not compensated for a Medicare plan enrollment and provides you with an unbiased view of all available Medicare Part D plans or Medicare Advantage plans.





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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.
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  • 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.