You all do know that with Medicare

[boston bean]

you have to renew your drug plan each year. And you had better make sure that the drugs you take are covered, each year. They can and do change what is covered every year. So, don't just simply renew. Do some checking first, before you end up in a position that puts you in the poor house.

This sucks and it's a shame it's allowed to happen. How are elderly people to keep up with this and make sure their needs are taken care of. It's a burden. Trying to figure this out each year for my mother, is a real pain in the ass. If people want real competition, you have to make the plans equitable. Otherwise it's just a scam.

I, however, I don't want competition. I want every single person to be able to access healthcare. Treating patients like they are consumers is wrong headed and simply repugnant to me.

[Kurovski]

1. I'm on disability and have been able to change my plan at any time.

I don't see that that has changed. I know my relatives who are retired have to pay close attention.

my doctor has been able to advocate the insurance company for me on two occasions. both times the items were "natural" and far cheaper than the alternatives. Sometimes it pays to be a bit pushy. I'm very lucky to have found a doctor who is great to work with She's a mercy in my life.

I think the whole competitive for-profit system is obscene. incomprehensibly inhumane.

[boston bean]

3. You can only change drug plans once a year.

During certain times each year (yearly enrollment periods for Part C & Part D)

Each year, you have a chance to make changes to your Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. There are 2 separate enrollment periods each year.

Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage.

What can I do?
Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer drug coverage.
Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another Medicare drug plan.
Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

When?

October 15–December 7

http://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan.html#collapse-3190

[Kurovski]

5. I have dual coverage.

including Medicaid. I can change anytime

Part D took over what the states once did. I could get any medically necessary item from the pharmacy, in order for that to continue to be true after the switch, the states made it possible for enrollees to change plans anytime to get the required meds at any time.

As it would seem.

[Downwinder]

6. If you are getting "Extra Help" you can change plans at any time.

[Demit]

2. America: we are consumers above all else. Until they need us for war, then we're patriots.

[boston bean]

4. It is truly despicable that this burden and scam is perpetrated

on our elderly.

And that is has followed through directly to the ACA speaks volumes. Same as it ever was.

[OKNancy]

7. Back to the original question. You don't have to renew Part D every year

You can only CHANGE it during open renewal, but if you want to keep the same plan, you don't have to renew or do anything.


ETA: I have found the aarp pdf to be a good one for basic Medicare questions:
http://www.aarphealthcare.com/content/dam/aarphealthcare/docs/medicare-made-clear.pdf

[snappyturtle]

9. THANK YOU...I just about had a heart attack! I didn't renew and after

two years on Medicare I've just recently started using it...whew!
I thought I might be in a whole lot of hurt.

[boston bean]

17. If you just let it auto renew without researching

you may find that your costs have increased, or that the formulary is not the same.

Auto renewing is renewing and agreeing to the plan as it will exist for that next year. Auto renewing doesn't mean your plan has to stay the same as when you first signed up for it.

[boston bean]

12. Of course you don't have to physically renew, it will do so automatically, but the plan can change.

Each year it can change and one better be doing due diligence.

[graywarrior]

8. I just attended one of those insurance company medicare info meetings

Holy shit, you need a PHd to figure your way through all that crap. I'm grateful that I have coverage right now and that I live in MA, but once I'm on medicare, it's gonna be torture trying to figure this all out. Not looking forward to it.

[lillypaddle]

10. I did not renew my drug plan

It renewed automatically. However, in January I moved to another state, and had to get coverage for KY, which was similar but not exactly as my coverage in GA.

[boston bean]

15. You ought to be careful about just letting it auto renew.

Because the formularies and cost can change year over year.

[WinkyDink]

11. It has been decades since we've been "citizens" of a "nation." Now we are "consumers" in "USA, Inc."

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Yes, and we do it for my mother in assisted living. I wonder how people in

ALF and nursing homes without family and or friends to assist them ever get the plan that pays for the majority of their drugs. I think that's the whole idea. People pick a plan and then they end up paying Tier 3 prices.

[theboss]

16. Most reputable places have advocates available

In the best interest of long-term care facilities to make sure that their patients have coverage.

I actually think that - long-term - we are more likely to move to some kind of quasi-Kaiser model than a single payer model. One of my hospital clients is already exploring the possibility of paying for coverage for patients who are chronic users of their ERs.

[Zorra]

14. Thanks. Great post. I think it might be a good idea if we all posted this

type of information as we discover it.

So we can help people have a better quality of life, and somewhat foil the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries' "scam the sick for profit" schemes.

What is in the hearts and minds of people who would do such a thing?
-----

The Wolf Of Indianapolis: Scene II

"Ron, I just figured out how we can increase profits by 16.4% this year. All we have to do is change which drugs we cover under Medicare each year. Most of the grannies out there won't be watching for this, so by my analysis, 66.6% of them will get burned on at least one drug switch every year. And...and here's the clincher...if we switch the expensive critical life saving drugs they need, the grannies we scam won't be able to afford them, and they'll die off quicker, saving us even more money! We simply let them die!

(Dramatic pause for emphasis and impact)

This translates into $3.2 gazillion in increased profits this year.

(Audible sharp intake of breath)

"Brilliant, Rand, just brilliant. I'm very proud of you, son, you remind me so much of me when I was your age. We're giving you a raise, and a hefty golden parachute." (Sympathy For The Devil begins to play-cliche in the background ~ "Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste...cuz what's puzzlin' you is the nature of my game, oh, yeah&quot

(End of Scene II)

So, what kind of people would even think about doing such awful things?

(Hints: Republicans, Third Way, and other RWers...because they can. For now.)

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. The "good" thing is, they never let you forget about it.

My father receives more mail about this than I do about all other things combined.

[boston bean]

19. It sort of scares me that people just re-up each year witht he same company without researching.

They must not understand their plan can change.

[WhiteTara]

20. It takes a little effort but you can usually get approved

I fought for a couple of months and got a drug that used to cost $98 and it is now $24

[William769]

21. I work with several people that are on medicare to help them manage it.

Medicare part D can get complicated you just need to read the new formularies before the new year starts and go from there.

But your right it needs to be a simpler process.