Medicare prescription supp

[Doug M.]

I have the one diagnosis that made me eligible for Medicare before 65. I've been approved and have my cards. I am getting info on changing our primary so that mine is a medicare supplement plan, which is easy. BUT: no 'script coverage, which I need.

Since this forum has more than a few folks on medicare, I though I would ask what 'script supplements folks are using/Medicare? Private? AARP is a no go.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Before I turned 65 (3.5 years ago) I put my medical pitbull (Ruthie) on the supplemental insurance hunt. After exhaustive research she chose AETNA (CVS is its parent company.

All has gone swimmingly for me. No complaints.

 

[ladder13]

Coverage came as part of my healthcare insurance/coverage upon retirement.
I have no desire to go elsewhere. And my wife can keep it when I croak.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Prescription coverage is seemingly as complicated as possible, so an apples to apples comparison is onerous.

I'd start with a full list of your required prescriptions, then develop a subset of any that you could easily afford to pay out of pocket, off coverage. The remainder are the drugs you need to specifically target for coverage.

Then navigate the actual annual out of pocket cost of combined premiums and co-pays. Add in the convenience or inconvenience of the drug fulfillment sources required to be used such as mail-order, or the price penalty of using your preferred retailer or method of filling prescriptions.

Good luck

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[pharmer]

I have the UHC supplement and Drug plan. The drug plan mandates use of Walgreen's only. I got 30 Nifedipine from them, $35 co-pay with a note that that's all I'm getting, tier 3. Called WalMart (previous pharmacy) and $114 for 90 pills but $36 with "GoodRx" discount. I'll probably be changing at the end of the year. Still waiting for the union to pony up their $75mo "length of service" stipend. Retirement is a full time desk job. Joe

 

[H Richard]

It will depend on what drugs you take. There are dozens of plans, but they all pay differently of various drugs. There is a web site on Medicare.gov that lets you input your specific drugs, and will list the company plans in order of price to you. They all make changes ever year or two and you may find you have to change plans in the open enrollment period beginning Oct 15 every year and ends mid Dec.

Since you are just now eligible for Medicare, you can join a plan mid year. I am lucky enough that our Senior Center has an expert that will access the website and run the check for us every year. I probably change plans ever 2 years.

 

[ladder13]

Doug, check https://costplusdrugs.com/

A discount drug program started by Mark Cuban. They don't have everything,yet.

I would look into it to see if they have what you require.

 

[hsguy]

I have an Aetna supplement that is still amazingly supplied by late wife's employer. It includes a Silver Scripts prescription component and I have been amazed by the coverage and my prescriptions are almost unbelievably inexpensive. My doctor wrote a prescription this week and the retail price was $3.13 per pill, My prescription was for 12 pills and when I picked it up my charge was 15 cents! I quipped they will soon be paying me to pick-up prescriptions.

 

[StakeOut]

I have CVS CareMark drug plan through retiree benefits of NYPD through the Police Union(PBA)
Right now my only medication is a high blood pressure pill that's $7.00 for 3 month supply(180).
A one month prescription(60) would not be covered and would cost $20.00

 

[grover99]

Drug coverage can be crazy. One med that costs $600 out of pocket was going to have a co-pay of $1600. I dropped that plan and my insurance agent found a plan that had a co-pay of $47. I have had a insurance agent for several years that runs the numbers and finds the best plan for me using my lists of meds, There is no charge to me for this service and having a professional agent has saved me a lot of money. Insurance is just too complex for the average old fart like me.

 

[Maddog 521]

Finding a good agent is the way to go. We shop ours every year and if we save any money or get better coverage we we change.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I like posting this almost every year rolleyes, so here goes for 2022.

Every state I'm aware of has a program called Seniors Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). These folks don't charge you anything, and aren't there to sell you anything. You can set up an appointment with them by phone or in person. They have access to helpful information, the ones I've dealt with are very good.

 

[Rolex28]

Fortunately or unfortunately I can get all my meds through the Va. My wife has a United Healthcare RX Plan

 

[shovelhead]

It's not a one size fits all solution but is a Medicare Advantage Plan a viable alternative?

First two years I was on Medicare I was shocked how much my monthly supplement went up mid-year and in addition having to carry a prescription plan started making me uneasy about the future. This was through AARP and United Healthcare as at the time they were the best choice for me. I hated to use them, slight political rant here for their left leaning policies and anti 2A stance.

Anyhow Advantage Plans became available in my county and my agent found that the one with the best fit was Aetna. My Medicare Part B money is paid directly to Aetna, no additional out of pocket. Prescription drug coverage is included, my maintenance drugs (BP and heart related) are zero co-pay. They also pay for a gym membership ahd have at least in my opinion reasonable reimbursements for dental and vision care. That and a additional policy from BC BS basically makes many of those services at no out of pocket expense. For example I'm in the process of having a lower partial plate made, between the two companies it is zero dollars I paid.

My stress tests went from a $850 co-pay with United Healthcare to $75 with Aetna. Best part, United Healthcare would not recognize my Cardiologist as my primary care health care provider despite his overseeing every bit of my medical care since '98 but Aetna will. A little thing but now instead of paying $40 out of pocket for my three visits per year I pay nothing.

Maybe something to consider?

 

[THE PILGRIM]

My Medicare Advantage Plan used to provide Prescription coverage with their basic plan.
But that changed and they wanted extra money for the Drug coverage.
So I switched to the Tricare drug plan available to Military Retirees.
The point is, even when you think you got it dialed in, medical stuff can change faster than the weather!

 

[StakeOut]

If it was only me I'd opt for the AETNA Medicare Advantage Plan or if my wife also was eligible for medicare but my wife is not near old enough so I'd need to pay about $1600/mo to cover my wife and grad school son through Aetna in a NYC retiree medical plan.We all must be on plans from the same provider so AETNA is not an option for us.

 

[K-22]

Aetna

Before I turned 65 (3.5 years ago) I put my medical pitbull (Ruthie) on the supplemental insurance hunt. After exhaustive research she chose AETNA (CVS is its parent company.

All has gone swimmingly for me. No complaints.

We have had Aetna's med advantage plan for two years.
So far, Top Drawer.
And, the hearing aid benefit is really a big plus.
Best,
Gary

 

[Rustyt1953]

We have had Aetna's med advantage plan for two years.
So far, Top Drawer.
And, the hearing aid benefit is really a big plus.
Best,
Gary

Gary, good to hear. I take 11 prescribed meds a day. Even with the generics my cost without the Aetna supplemental plan would be quite burdensome.

The partnership between CVS and Aetna works well for me.

Ruthie chose wisely.

 

[K-22]

Good RX

I have the UHC supplement and Drug plan. The drug plan mandates use of Walgreen's only. I got 30 Nifedipine from them, $35 co-pay with a note that that's all I'm getting, tier 3. Called WalMart (previous pharmacy) and $114 for 90 pills but $36 with "GoodRx" discount. I'll probably be changing at the end of the year. Still waiting for the union to pony up their $75mo "length of service" stipend. Retirement is a full time desk job. Joe

Anyone having to reach into their own pocket to pay any part of a prescription should definitely check out Good RX.
I have one prescription I pay out of pocket, and Good RX saved me a couple of thousand $$.
Best,
Gary