How to Switch Part D Plans During Open Enrollment

switch part d plan

Switch Part D plan season arrives every October, and it matters more than most people realize. Prescription drug plans change their formularies, tiers, pharmacy networks, and premiums every single year. A medication covered cheaply in one year can land on a higher tier the next. Meanwhile, the plan you chose three years ago may no … Read more

What to Do If Your Drug Needs Prior Authorization

drug prior authorization

Drug prior authorization is one of the most common roadblocks Medicare beneficiaries hit at the pharmacy counter. It means your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan will not pay for a medication until your doctor proves it is medically necessary. The scale of this issue is large. According to

How the Part D Redesign Changed Drug Costs

part d redesign

Part D redesign changes have reshaped how millions of Medicare beneficiaries pay for prescription drugs. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 triggered the biggest overhaul of Medicare drug coverage since Part D launched in 2006. Starting in 2025, the law eliminated the infamous “donut hole” and capped annual out-of-pocket drug spending for the first time. … Read more

Medicare and Specialty Drug Coverage: Tier 5 Explained

medicare specialty drug tier 5

medicare specialty drug tier 5 is the highest and most expensive level on a Part D plan’s drug list. It covers the costliest medications, such as biologics for rheumatoid arthritis, oral cancer therapies, and multiple sclerosis treatments. Plans place a drug on this tier when its price exceeds a threshold set by CMS each year. … Read more

The 7 Medicare Facts Every Senior Should Know

medicare tips

Table of Contents 1. Medicare Coverage for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2. How Disability Beneficiaries Avoid the Part D Penalty 3. Medicare for People With Heart Failure 4. Medicare Part B for Diabetic Supplies and Equipment 5. Medicare and Cancer Treatment: What’s Covered 6. Medicare Coverage for Home Health Care 7. How SSDI Recipients Choose a … Read more

Generic vs Brand Name Drugs Under Medicare Part D

generic brand name medicare

generic brand name medicare decisions affect nearly every person enrolled in Part D. The choice sounds simple. In practice, it drives what you pay at the pharmacy counter all year. Generic and biosimilar medicines make up about 90 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the United States. Yet they account for only 13. Table of Contents … Read more

How to Apply for Extra Help to Lower Part D Costs

apply extra help part d

apply extra help part d benefits and you could erase most of what you pay for prescription drugs each year. Extra Help is the federal Low-Income Subsidy, or LIS, run by the Social Security Administration. It pays your Part D premium up to a benchmark amount, wipes out the annual deductible, and caps what you … Read more

Mail-Order Prescriptions Through Medicare Part D Explained

medicare mail order prescriptions

Medicare mail order prescriptions let beneficiaries receive maintenance drugs delivered directly to their door. Most Part D plans build this option into their pharmacy network. The appeal is simple. You get a 90-day supply instead of three separate trips to the counter. For someone managing diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, that means fewer … Read more

What to Do When Your Medicare Plan Drops Your Medication

medicare plan dropped medication

Medicare plan dropped medication situations catch millions of beneficiaries off guard every year. You walk into the pharmacy, hand over a familiar prescription, and suddenly the cost jumps or the claim is denied. It feels alarming, especially for older adults managing chronic conditions. However, a medicare plan dropped medication decision is rarely the end of … Read more