Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program

15 Tips to Help You Find a Medicare Part D Drug Plan:
Enrollment November 15-December 31, 2008

Trying to determine which Medicare prescription drug plan best meets your needs can be confusing. These tips can point you in the right direction.

1. Go to the official Medicare Web site, www.medicare.gov.
   
   
2. Within the shaded box on the right side of the page, Prescription Drug Plans, select the “Compare” button.
   
   
3. When you reach the next Web page, select the “Find & Compare Plans” button on the left side of the page.
   
   
4. You will next be given two options, either a “Personalized Search” or a “General Search” – select the “General Search” button.
   
   
5. On the next page, enter your zip code, answer the next three questions, and then press the “Continue” button.  You do not need to enter your age or health status.
   
   
6. Look over the information on the Review Current Coverage page to make sure it’s accurate, and then press the “Continue” button.
   
   
7. You’ll be directed to the Find and Compare Plans page; read the data on this page and press the "Continue" button.  On the next page press the “Enter My Drugs” button.
   
   
8. When you get to the Enter My Drugs page, you will need to know all of prescription medications you take, as well as the dosage. Enter your drugs one at a time in the search box.  If you are not sure about the spelling of a medication, you can use the alphabetical listing of drugs.  After listing all your medications press “Continue.”
   
   
9. A list of the drugs you entered will appear. Carefully review each one to make sure that the dosage listed next to the medication is the dosage that you are prescribed.  If not, simply select the dosage box and select the correct size (e.g. cholesterol medications, for example, can either be 10, 20 or 40 mg per tablet).
   
   
10. To avoid having to re-input the information on the medications you take, select “Save Your Drug List” (or skip to the next section), then press “Continue.”
    
    
11. You next will be asked if you want to choose a preferred pharmacy. This is not necessary at this point – wait to check for preferred pharmacies until you review the actual plans.  Select “Continue.”
    
    
12. Choose two or three of the programs found by the Medicare Drug Plan Finder to review and compare.
    
    
13. When looking at each plan, be sure to go to the “More Information” drop down box and look at “View Plan Details.”  Check to see if the plan has any important restrictions, such as quantity limits, a requirement for prior authorization, or step therapy (in which drug therapy for a medical condition always has to begin with the most cost-effective therapy and only includes more costly medications if deemed medically necessary).
    
    
14. If you have any questions, try calling the drug plan using Medicare's toll-free phone number (1-800-633-4227); or talk to a Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) counselor.  VICAP is a counseling program that assists individuals over age 60 and their families in understanding Medicare, Medicaid and medical bills, or in making decisions about Medicare supplement or long-term care insurance. There is no cost for this service. Call the Virginia Department for the Aging toll-free at 1-800-552-3402 to find a VICAP counselor in your area.
    
    
15. When you have your questions answered and have found the plan that best fits your current needs, enroll either online or by phone. It is important to complete your enrollment during the annual enrollment period (November 15-December 31). The new prescription benefits plan will be in effect as of January 1. (Individuals newly qualified for Medicare will be asked to choose a prescription benefit plan when they first become eligible for benefits.)
    
    

Source:  Howard Houghton, Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program,
             Fairfax County.