Selecting a plan that works for you

Selecting a plan that works for you Free enrollment assistance 844-263-5972 See Page 6 for details Get more from your Medicare prescription drug c...
Author: Darcy Johnson
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Selecting a plan that works for you

Free enrollment assistance

844-263-5972 See Page 6 for details

Get more from your Medicare prescription drug coverage Since the beginning of Medicare Part D, we’ve learned what’s most important to you—getting trusted information and lowering your prescription costs. We’re here to help you find ways to save on Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage with Part D plan.

In the guide, you’ll: • Learn what to re-evaluate each year on your drug plan • Get tips to lower your out-of-pocket costs • Understand the benefits of a preferred pharmacy network

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Selecting and re-evaluating your Medicare plan every year Each year, it’s a good idea to review your Medicare prescription drug coverage. It may seem like you’ll save the most by selecting the plan with the lowest monthly premium. However, a low premium plan may not cover your medications or could mean you’ll have higher copays and deductibles.

What to consider when evaluating plans Many factors can impact which type of plan is right for you. These include your total out-of-pocket costs and what your plan covers, such as preferred doctors and hospitals and your current prescription drugs. A good place to start is to consider whether you should enroll in a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan (MAPD).

What is a PDP? A Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) is a stand-alone plan offered by private insurance companies that only covers prescription drugs. What is an MAPD? A Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan (MAPD) combines Parts A, B and D into a single plan offered by private insurance companies and limits your hospital and medical deductibles, coinsurance and copays. They also include extra benefits such as dental, vision and health clubs.

A licensed broker can help determine the best plan options based on your current situation. See Page 6 for details.

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Understanding the key Med Costs associated with Part D

Premium The monthly fee for your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage with Part D coverage.

Deductible The amount you’ll pay out of pocket for your prescription medications before your Part D plan begins to pay its share.

Copay The portion of the prescription drug cost that you’re responsible for paying after your deductible (if any) is met. In a standard Medicare Part D plan, copays begin in phase two, the initial coverage phase. A copay is typically a fixed amount you pay for your medication. Copays vary depending on the medications you take.

Penalty You may owe a late enrollment penalty if you go without creditable prescription drug coverage for any continuous period of 63 days or more after your Initial Enrollment Period is over. The penalty is the amount added to your monthly premium for the duration of your Medicare Part D coverage. 4

key Medicare Part D terms Coverage phases

Deductible phase Amount you must pay each year for your prescriptions before your drug plan begins to pay its share of your covered drugs.

Once you reach your full deductible

Initial coverage phase You’re only responsible for a copay for each prescription—it’s usually a fixed amount. Once you and your plan spend a combined amount determined by Medicare

Coverage gap phase You’ll be responsible for a higher out-of-pocket payment in this phase—also known as the “donut hole.” Once your out-of-pocket costs reach the upper limit of the coverage gap

Catastrophic phase You’ll pay for a much smaller portion of your prescription drug costs for the rest of the year.

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Get advice from a Medicare plan advisor We’ve teamed up with eHealth to make it easy to answer any questions you have about Medicare during the enrollment process.*

Who is eHealth? eHealth is an independent, fully licensed health insurance broker that works with more than 180 insurance carriers nationwide. eHealth’s team of licensed advisors is available to help you evaluate and compare Medicare plans from different insurance companies. What can they do for me? Their helpful team of advisors can provide personalized advice based on your specific prescriptions and will help you find the plan with the lowest total out-of-pocket cost. They can also estimate how much you’ll pay each month and if, or when, you’re likely to enter the coverage gap. Plus, they’ll help you enroll—at no cost. How can I reach them? Get free, personalized advice from a licensed advisor by calling 844-263-5972 or visit ehealthmedicare.com/Walgreens

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Important questions to ask 1. Does my plan have a preferred pharmacy network? Is my pharmacy preferred? 2. Are my current drugs on the plan’s formulary? 3. Given my personal situation, should I consider a PDP or an MAPD? 4. What will be the total monthly cost? 5. Will I hit the coverage gap (donut hole)? When? 6. Do I qualify for financial assistance such as Extra Help or low-income subsidies?

Get free, personalized advice by calling eHealth’s Medicare plan advisor at 844-263-5972.* TTY: 711 *eHealth is a licensed insurance broker. No commissions are paid to Walgreens.

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4 easy ways to lower your costs Generics Many brand-name drugs have generic substitutions. Check whether your plan has a generic alternative, and then talk with your doctor to see if this would be a good option for you. Lower-cost brands If you’re using a brand-name drug that doesn’t have a generic alternative, there may be lower-cost brand-name drugs used to treat the same condition. Ask your pharmacist if you have that option. Then, talk with your doctor to see if switching brands makes sense in your situation. Preferred pharmacy Some plans have a preferred pharmacy network. By filling at a preferred pharmacy in your drug plan, you can save on the cost of your prescription copays. Walgreens is preferred in most prescription drug plans. Plan evaluation Talking to eHealth’s Medicare plan advisors about your specific prescriptions could help lower your costs.* Financial assistance programs like Extra Help are also available. 8

Preferred pharmacies can help you save Many prescription drug plans have a preferred pharmacy network. Preferred network pharmacies can offer lower copays because they have an agreement with your Part D plan to charge less. Pharmacies, in general, may charge different copays based on factors such as your plan design, coverage, and prescription drugs, so it’s important to fill your prescriptions at a preferred network pharmacy. Walgreens is a preferred network pharmacy with many of the nation’s top plans—offering copays as low as $1 on select plans.† When you start to research coverage, make sure your pharmacy of choice is in your plan’s preferred network. You can get a list of plans where Walgreens is preferred—just visit your local store or Walgreens.com/Medicare-Plans.

*eHealth is a licensed insurance broker. No commissions are paid to Walgreens. †$1 copays apply to Tier 1 generics.

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3 common misconceptions

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Myth

Fact

Your prescriptions covered by Medicare cost the same at all pharmacies.

You pay less on copays when you fill a Medicare Part D-covered prescription at a preferred pharmacy in your plan’s network.

Medicare plans can require you to fill prescriptions by mail.

Medicare prevents plans from requiring patients to use a mail-order pharmacy.

Once you pick a plan, you don’t need to review it each year.

Changes in the drugs you take, plan design and coverage may cause your existing plan to no longer be right for you. Every September, your plan sends a letter that describes any changes to your plan. It is important to review these changes as they could impact your total cost.

It’s easy to get more at Walgreens • Vaccinations—Shingles may be covered by Medicare Part D,

and pneumonia and flu are covered by Medicare Part B. • 90-day prescriptions—Three refills in one convenient trip. • Generic medications—Lower-priced alternatives may be available. • 100 points—Earn points every time you fill prescriptions.‡ • Exclusive benefits—Link your AARP card with your Balance® Rewards card to get additional points and perks.§

It’s easy to switch your prescriptions to Walgreens. Stop in and talk to a pharmacist today!

‡Prescription points limited to 50,000 points per calendar year and cannot be earned in AR, NJ and NY or on prescriptions transferred to a participating store located in AL, MS, OR or PR. Points cannot be earned or redeemed on some items, and points will not be earned in a transaction where store credit or redemption dollars are used. Other restrictions apply. See full terms and details at Walgreens.com/Balance. §AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details. See terms and conditions for both programs for full details. Full terms and details at Walgreens.com/AARPcard.

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We look forward to seeing you soon.

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