November 15 kicks off the official Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, when the 28 million seniors eligible for Medicare Part D benefits should review their current and anticipated drug coverage needs. My pharmacy and staff are your local Medicare resource and can help you understand your coverage options and expected costs.
Each year, Medicare plans make changes that could affect the drugs that are covered and how much they cost. And this year, some insurance companies may be discontinuing plans and/or moving patients to new plans as a result of new federal requirements.
So shop around and choose carefully. For example, the Walmart and Humana plan prominently advertises low premiums available under the plan. But the best advertised prices don't apply to many common drugs and also require use of Walmart pharmacies, which comprise a small percentage of U.S pharmacies and received the lowest customer service ratings in their class, according to J.D. Power and Associates.
That's why it's important for patients to look at the total annual cost of any Medicare prescription plan they choose, which is a combination of monthly premiums and co-pays for your medications, and any restrictions on choosing your pharmacy.
The staff at Pill Box Pharmacy is happy to answer questions you may have about your current prescription drug plan. As accessible medication experts, our staff can help you determine which plans cover the medications you take and help you calculate your total annual drug costs.
The Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 31 and plan changes take effect Jan. 1.
