Apply for the Medicare Part D Plan

Apply for the Medicare Part D Plan

Apply for the Medicare Part D Plan : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

Medicare coverage is a notoriously confusing system, even for healthcare providers. Unfortunately, the confusion surrounding the Medicare Part D Plan is even worse. Many people are dismayed and confused by the seeming lack of effort from government officials to clarify and explain the enrollment procedure. I'd like to help make it a bit clearer for you.

Basically, Medicare Part D is the new prescription drug coverage program that offers discounted prices for most prescriptions, both generic and name-brand. This program was created to offset the rising cost of medication for seniors on a fixed income. Anyone currently enrolled in Medicare Part A or B is eligible to enroll additionally in Medicare Part D insurance.

In a few steps, you can add Part D to your existing Medicare coverage. It can also be accessed through a Medicare HMO or PPO. Of course, there may be an additional monthly charge for this prescription coverage, determined by the modified gross income listed on your tax filing. This fee ranges from $15 to $70 per month.

To help make sense of it all, here are some important tips you should know about Medicare and, more specifically, how to enroll in Medicare Part D insurance:

• Determine your eligibility. To be eligible for Medicare Part D, you must first have Medicare Part A or Part B. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance that typically pays for inpatient care and, if needed, a skilled nursing facility (if you were recently in the hospital). Medicare Part B covers you when you see your physician or healthcare provider. As you know, you must be a U.S. citizen and age 65 or older to qualify for Medicare. For both programs, there are premiums and deductibles. These vary based on whether you have other health insurance coverage and can also vary over time.
• Start the process. Navigate to the website created for Medicare Part D enrollment located here. Choose the option to “Find and Compare Plans.” This site will direct you to as much Medicare information as you need.
• Consider all the costs associated with each plan. There will be an additional monthly charge for Medicare Part D coverage. This is because the plan comes with a monthly charge, deductibles, and co-pays.
• Avoid the gap. Some Medicare Part D programs have a gap in coverage. This means the cost of all prescriptions is covered until the participant reaches a certain amount in annual expenditures. From that point, the customer must pay for all medications out of pocket until another amount has been met.

  As an example of the prescription coverage gap, some companies will cover all costs for prescriptions until the total reaches $2,000 in one year. At that point, the participant must pay for all their own medications until the total amount reaches $4,000 in the same year. At that point, the medications will once again be completely covered by the insurance. This process starts over the next year.

• Pick a plan. Once you have found the right plan, you can enroll online. You can do so 3 months after enrolling in Medicare for the first time. For all other Medicare members, there is an annual enrollment period from November 15 to December 31 each year.

My advice is to get in direct touch with a government Medicare center. There are no secrets about this program: as long as you have both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, you can enroll in Medicare Part D. You don't have to call one of the many companies offering coverage. Just get in touch with The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the clearest information.

If you do choose to call one of the many companies offering Medicare prescription coverage (Medicare Part D), you will be talking with a representative of that company. It's a jungle out there, and these people will not help you cut through the thicket to see what's best for you. That's why I recommend that before you call one of the many companies using clever sales methods, contact your Medicare office first. You could save time and money!

The representatives of the Medicare administration are trained to discuss Medicare benefits and help you decide which plan is best for you, given all the options offered to you as well as your needs. The personnel at Medicare will assist you in comparing the prices of the many companies, provide information about them with respect to their hidden fees, and generally look out for your best interest. To save money and prevent potential heartache, it may be best to contact Medicare directly rather than choosing one of the several companies marketing their own plans on television and other media.

Quick Tips:

• Remember: Use the Medicare site when in doubt.
• Literally hundreds of companies offer programs for this portion of Medicare. Before you make any decision about enrollment, it is best to first call Medicare at 1-800-663-4227.
• If you have not yet enrolled and you find that companies are asking for additional fees, don't buy into this scam! The companies asking you to call them to get Medicare Part D coverage may not always have your best interests in mind; these companies are in business to make money from you.