Where Do I Start With Part "D"?
How to begin your
walk through the Part "D" maze
Bob Fassbach, Editor,
www.SeniorArk.com
* Your
primary source should be Medicare's new plan finder at
www.medicare.gov.
Click on "Medicare Prescription Drug Plans" and then
click on "Find and Compare Plans" to determine what
changes are in store. That's the same site to use to
analyze the plan offerings in your area. This will
probably be your most independent and objective source
for information, untainted by industry profit motives.
* Or call the agency at (800) MEDICARE (633-4227).
Operators can assist callers in navigating the agency's
search engine for qualifying plans, or they can send
written information on each plan.
* State-specific guidance is also available. Go to our
"government
links" page and click your state. That link should
lead you to a site in your state that can help you. Many
states have programs that dovetail in some way with
Medicare, and you will save a lot of money if you find
the right one. For example, my Pennsylvania plan covers
me completely through the doughnut hole!
Other sources
Several organizations also offer phone operators or
websites to help consumers figure out a plan's
specifics.
* The AARP Guide to Understanding Medicare Drug Coverage
explains in clear terms the benefits provided by the
programs. A downloadable checklist is useful for
comparing costs among plans. Go to
www.aarp.org/health/medicare. But remember, AARP
gets a
huge amount of profit from selling Part "D"
insurance, and you should always keep this in mind as
you read their information.
*
Another source for evaluating plans in your sate can be
found at
www.Medicare-PartD.com. As with AARP, one must keep
in mind that this is NOT an objective site. It is
insurance industry sponsored. Always go back to the
official Medicare site to verify that you have made the
right choices.
* The National Alliance for Hispanic Health, an advocacy
group, can answer questions about Medicare Part D
benefits for Spanish-speaking beneficiaries. Unlike in
past years, however, the group cannot enroll
beneficiaries in specific plans. Call (866) 783-2645,
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
* Medicare Rights Center, an independent information
source for all things Medicare, offers telephone
counseling to answer questions about Medicare Part D.
Call (800) 333-4114 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to
6 p.m. (EST). The group's website,
www.medicarerights.org /help.html, offers
information on various drug plans and tips on comparing
them.
Low-income help
* Apply for Extra Federal
Help., There is a federal program that helps pay for some
or most of the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage,
if your income and assets are low enough to qualify.
website.
Don't forget to check you state for
many programs like this as well.
also
see:
Part D Fiasco - Congress Can Do Better,
Part D In Chart Form,
All about Part D and Medicare
