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Do any of you 65 and older and on Medicare not purchase Part D Prescription Drug coverage? If you do not purchase it, what is your philosophy or point of view on it, and do you worry at all about not having the coverage it provides?
The drugs I take for high blood pressure and high cholesterol are all available for only $4 per month (or $10 for 3 months) at walmart.com without insurance. I will keep purchasing these thru walmart.com with or without Part D insurance, as nothing is cheaper than $4 per month.
So purchasing Part D Prescription Drug coverage would benefit people like myself only if they happen to need a specialized drug for a disease or condition sometime in the future - which I realize is the nature of insurance.
Yes, I have considered this, as my drugs are similar to yours, all generics, and not expensive. But, if I should have something unusual come up, like cancer, parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, etc etc , and need one of those $5000 drugs, what would I do? Not a risk taker here. So I continue to pay for the Part D drugs, even though I don't need anything right now, but who knows what the future might bring???
Are you aware that there is, with limited exceptions, a penalty for not starting a Part D plan when first eligible ?
See pages 88 -89 of "Medicare & You" http://www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf
My husband and I were enrolled in Part D year before last and decided we came out even at best with the drug costs so decided not to enroll this year. The penality (at least currently) is small for each year you skip enrollment. However, now one of my husband's periodic meds, for gout has gone from very reasonable to $400/mo due to changes made by the drug company. Now we'll enroll again in Part D for 2013, under one of the cheapest plans with a zero deductible.
My husband and I were enrolled in Part D year before last and decided we came out even at best with the drug costs so decided not to enroll this year. The penality (at least currently) is small for each year you skip enrollment. However, now one of my husband's periodic meds, for gout has gone from very reasonable to $400/mo due to changes made by the drug company. Now we'll enroll again in Part D for 2013, under one of the cheapest plans with a zero deductible.
Colcrys? Check the plan you buy carefully. Some don't cover Colcrys at all. Mine does - but it's a $40/month deductible (Tier 3 drug). Robyn
Where is there a "cheap plan with a zero deductible"? All the Part D plans with a zero deductible do not seem cheap to me. Maybe you mean $42 per month instead of $54 per month or something similar?
Because all the Part D plans I've seen which are inexpensive have a $320 per year deductible.
Where is there a "cheap plan with a zero deductible"? All the Part D plans with a zero deductible do not seem cheap to me. Maybe you mean $42 per month instead of $54 per month or something similar?
Because all the Part D plans I've seen which are inexpensive have a $320 per year deductible.
None are truly cheap, are they. But I was looking at the plans ranging from $22. to $40. /mo with zero deductible (in NM).
So purchasing Part D Prescription Drug coverage would benefit people like myself only if they happen to need a specialized drug for a disease or condition sometime in the future - which I realize is the nature of insurance.
Unfortunately, it's also the nature of advancing age to result in the need for other medications as the body begins to wear out. With the non-purchase penalty, you could end up more out-of-pocket by putting off Part D enrollment. Just something to think about!
Something else you want to remember. For the most part, once the AEP timeline passes (after 12/7), you are LOCKED OUT of getting prescription coverage until January 1, 2014! So what happens if your health changes down the road in 2013 and you have expensive medications you have to take? You would be in a world of hurt! And yes there is the rx penalty assessed by Medicare.
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