• Thursday, October 28, 2010

    A Review Of Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Participants

    By Maurice Gordon

    Each year between November 15 and December 31st, Medicare Part D Open Enrollment takes place. This coverage can be very important when a person is getting older and their costs for prescriptions begins to rise. When you are considering changing plans or starting the Medicare Prescription Plan, there will be some important factors to consider.

    In order to qualify for the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan you must have Medicare Part A or B. You must also live in the service area of the Medicare drug plan that you are going to participate in. Therefore, if you move a lot, or have two residences, it will be important to discuss this with your insurance provider so that your coverage will not be invalid when you are in another area.

    Comparing premiums and providers will be important because the rates can vary. Insurance and private providers must be approved by Medicare to offer these types of plans. If you are receiving supplemental medicare coverage through your employer, you will need to talk to your benefits administrator about the Part D option since some companies have prescription coverage through another source and do not offer the Medicare drug plan option to their employees.

    By signing up for Part D coverage during the annual open enrollment period, you will not have to pay any extra fees. This is a coverage that some people do not sign up for, however, as a person gets older, having drugs covered by your insurance can save you money and worry if you develop a chronic illness.

    A person becomes eligible for the Medicare Drug Plan at the same time they are eligible for Medicare. There are a number of situations when a person will qualify for Medicare coverage such as a disability, special circumstances, etc. If you think that you may be eligible for coverage, talking to a provider will be helpful in determining whether you have the eligibility to apply.

    Premiums for the drug plan may be paid on a monthly or annual basis. You may also decide to have the payment taken directly from your social security and you will need to contact your plan provider to make this arrangement. The cost for coverage will vary so it will be important to find out what the cost will be when you are comparing providers.

    In some cases, individuals qualify for a special, lower premium based on their income. When you are comparing providers, discuss the options to qualify for special assistance with your Medicare premiums. When you are talking to providers about options available to you, it will be important to discuss whether or not they provide "gap coverage".

    Both Medicare and the Medicare Prescription Drug plans have a "donut hole" that caps on the amount that the coverage pays for health care and drugs. Between this cap and the level where the coverage will begin paying again, all expenses must be paid out-of-pocket. This gap is called the "donut hole". Even when you have capped on coverage paid by Medicare, you must still pay the premiums for coverage.

    Providers that are knowledgeable in how Medicare and Medicare Part D Open Enrollment works and the intricacies of the coverage plans will be able to give you important details and information about the steps you can take to assure that you have the most comprehensive coverage for an affordable premium. By comparing providers, you will be able to find the insurance provider that will give you the information you need to make the best decision about the coverage plan that will fit your needs and requirements.

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