B Medicare Aware

Choosing to switch your brand name medication to a generic is not an easy decision for some Medicare beneficiaries. For others, they anxiously await the next generic release. Many generics are substantially less expensive than their brand name equivalents. Why is that? Are generics inferior? While shopping for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan during the Annual Enrollment Period, you may find plans that do not include your brand name drug in their formulary, but generic equivalents are available. This episode will help you understand why and if you should consider changing to a generic.

Like I mentioned in Episodes 4 and 5, few parts of Medicare impact the daily lives of most beneficiaries like Medicare Part D. Medicare beneficiaries take more prescription drugs than any other group of U.S. citizens. In this episode, I explain what you need to know while you shop for a prescription drug plan during the Annual Enrollment Period. You should definitely listen to this episode at least once.

While you are shopping for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage Plan, you may find a plan that almost checks all the boxes. One of your prescription drugs may not be in the plan’s formulary or it would be subject to utilization management like a quantity limit. What should you do? In this episode, I discuss the decision to enroll in the plan and requesting a Coverage Determination. During the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), you will face some challenges. This podcast prepares you for them.

Statistics show that more Medicare beneficiaries are enrolling in Medicare Advantage plans. You may be in one now or considering it for the upcoming Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). In this episode, I will list and explain the Things to know about Medicare Advantage Plans according to Medicare.gov. Be prepared for the Annual Enrollment Period more than ever before and listen to this episode and the others leading up to the AEP.

Some Medicare beneficiaries have other coverage along with Medicare. That coverage may be Medicaid, an employer plan, VA benefits, or something else. How do these plans work together? Which plan pays first? In this episode, I answer these questions. For the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), you will need to inform your new plan of your other coverage, if you change plans, so they can coordinate your benefits.

The Medicare Plan Finder is the most used tool on Medicare.gov. In 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a modernized and redesigned Plan Finder. In this episode, I talk about the improvements and give step-by-step instructions on using it. Whether you have Original Medicare with or without a Medicare Supplement plan, a Part D prescription drug plan, or Medicare Advantage, you will appreciate the new Medicare Plan Finder and this episode.

Approximately one in five Medicare beneficiaries are affected by diabetes. If you are a beneficiary on insulin or know someone who is, you will want to listen to this episode. For plan year 2021, there are numerous improvements to Medicare diabetes benefits. I encourage you to be familiar with these changes before the Annual Enrollment Period which starts next month.

There are some significant changes to Medicare planned for 2021. What are they? Why make these particular changes? In this episode, I list and explain most of the important ones. Before the upcoming Annual Enrollment Period, you should be informed of any changes that could affect you. If you are a Medicare beneficiary with certain medical conditions, it is imperative for you to get this information.