| 2010 Medicare Drug Plan Center |
DOWNLOAD CENTER Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Rights |
Copyright 2009, Mitchell's Park Street Pharmacy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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2010 GENERAL QUESTIONS & INFORMATION
2010 Deductibles, Co-Pays and Costs
The following Information has been released by CMS for 2010. These changes will
not take effect until January 1, 2010:
2009 2010
Deductible $295 $310
Extra Help Generics $2.40 $2.50
Extra Help Brand-Names $6.00 $6.30
Medicaid/Medicare Generics $1.10 $1.10
Medicaid/Medicare Generics $3.20 $3.30
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Medicare Advantage Plans
Virtually every Medicare drug plan is now selling Medicare Advantage Plans. These
plans are "cheaper" because they offer one premium (usually what you would
normally pay for traditional Medicare Part A & B) for hospital, doctor and drug
coverage. The "catch" is that these plans work very similar to an HMO. When you
choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, you cannot have traditional Medicare Part A & B
and you will pay deductibles and, in some cases, percentages of your costs. You
cannot have any supplemental insurance plans to cover those costs. There are some
Medicare Advantage Plans that do make sense for some patients. The pharmacy
urges caution when deciding whether to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Consider every factor when making this decision. CAUTION: Read pages 31 and
42-43 of your 2008 Medicare & You Handbook before making any decision.
Special Enrollment Information
Individuals that have Medicaid/Medicare can change plans every 30 days. If you
enter a nursing home or just become eligible for Medicare in 2009, you can enroll in
or change plans. Otherwise, you are unable to change or enter a plans until
November 2009 which will become effective for 2010.
Donut Holes
Federal law requires every Part D drug plan to have a "donut hole." This means all
plans must require patients to pay all of their drug costs when their costs reach a
certain amount of money. This amount changes every year, so read your "Medicare
and You" manual each year to determine what this amount is.
Deductibles
The law also requires plans that choose to have deductibles to set those deductibles
at certain amounts unless they get special approval for a lower deductible. In 2009,
the deductible is $295. Some plans did get approval for lower deductibles.
Formularies
The law allows companies to set their own formularies. A formulary is a list of
drugs that are covered by a particular plan. These formularies can and often do
change during the year. Just because your medicine is no longer covered by a plan
you still cannot change plans until the next open enrollment period.
2010 Deductibles, Co-Pays and Costs
The following Information has been released by CMS for 2010. These changes will
not take effect until January 1, 2010:
2009 2010
Deductible $295 $310
Extra Help Generics $2.40 $2.50
Extra Help Brand-Names $6.00 $6.30
Medicaid/Medicare Generics $1.10 $1.10
Medicaid/Medicare Generics $3.20 $3.30
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Medicare Advantage Plans
Virtually every Medicare drug plan is now selling Medicare Advantage Plans. These
plans are "cheaper" because they offer one premium (usually what you would
normally pay for traditional Medicare Part A & B) for hospital, doctor and drug
coverage. The "catch" is that these plans work very similar to an HMO. When you
choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, you cannot have traditional Medicare Part A & B
and you will pay deductibles and, in some cases, percentages of your costs. You
cannot have any supplemental insurance plans to cover those costs. There are some
Medicare Advantage Plans that do make sense for some patients. The pharmacy
urges caution when deciding whether to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Consider every factor when making this decision. CAUTION: Read pages 31 and
42-43 of your 2008 Medicare & You Handbook before making any decision.
Special Enrollment Information
Individuals that have Medicaid/Medicare can change plans every 30 days. If you
enter a nursing home or just become eligible for Medicare in 2009, you can enroll in
or change plans. Otherwise, you are unable to change or enter a plans until
November 2009 which will become effective for 2010.
Donut Holes
Federal law requires every Part D drug plan to have a "donut hole." This means all
plans must require patients to pay all of their drug costs when their costs reach a
certain amount of money. This amount changes every year, so read your "Medicare
and You" manual each year to determine what this amount is.
Deductibles
The law also requires plans that choose to have deductibles to set those deductibles
at certain amounts unless they get special approval for a lower deductible. In 2009,
the deductible is $295. Some plans did get approval for lower deductibles.
Formularies
The law allows companies to set their own formularies. A formulary is a list of
drugs that are covered by a particular plan. These formularies can and often do
change during the year. Just because your medicine is no longer covered by a plan
you still cannot change plans until the next open enrollment period.
HELPFUL CONTACT NUMBERS AND WEBSITES MEDICARE 1-800-MEDICARE SOCIAL SECURITY 800-772-1213 TRICARE 888-363-5433 TRICARE for Life 866-773-0404 Veterans Affairs 800-827-1000 Railroad Retirement 800-808-0772 OUR CUSTOMER'S MOST POPULAR PLANS* Community CCRx 866-684-5353 Humana 800-851-1629 * The pharmacy does accept other plans and does not endorse any particular plan. However, these plans are the most popular among our patients. |