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I'm American, and when I need a prescription filled, I get it at the local pharmacy, no problem. All the routine meds I take are free through Medicare. No knocking the system here.
When I needed my blood pressure meds renewed at Walgreen's, it was 9.00 for 3 months. I picked it up at the pharmacy and left, was sitting in my car and started to laugh. I realized that this 9.00 script really cost me 74.70. Part D insurance at 21.90 a month x 3 months plus the 9.00 for the meds. So, the 9.00 med really cost me 74.70. OMG!!! So, nuts!!
And yet if you don't have Part D you are penalized. So, nuts again!!
What would the cost have been without the Part D?
I am 77 y/o and don't have Part D. Don't take meds, don't plan to. Bad experience when 36 y/o w/reaction to prescribed meds (life-changing event) taught me a lesson I don't need to relearn. It's possible at some point I'll need a mild BP med. From what I read here, Walgreen's and CVS have good plans/prices and then there are the goodrx and other sites. Further, the penalty becomes less of a concern the longer I live, because how many years do I have left to pay a higher premium for Part D? So I'll worry about the value of a Part D when and if the time comes. For those who don't take meds and also don't want Part D penalty exposure, buy the cheapest Part D plan just as a cya.
I'm American, and when I need a prescription filled, I get it at the local pharmacy, no problem. All the routine meds I take are free through Medicare. No knocking the system here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ariadne22
What would the cost have been without the Part D?
I am 77 y/o and don't have Part D. Don't take meds, don't plan to. Bad experience when 36 y/o w/reaction to prescribed meds (life-changing event) taught me a lesson I don't need to relearn. It's possible at some point I'll need a mild BP med. From what I read here, Walgreen's and CVS have good plans/prices and then there are the goodrx and other sites. Further, the penalty becomes less of a concern the longer I live, because how many years do I have left to pay a higher premium for Part D? So I'll worry about the value of a Part D when and if the time comes. For those who don't take meds and also don't want Part D penalty exposure, buy the cheapest Part D plan just as a cya.
I am 77 y/o and don't have Part D. Don't take meds, don't plan to. Bad experience when 36 y/o w/reaction to prescribed meds (life-changing event) taught me a lesson I don't need to relearn. It's possible at some point I'll need a mild BP med. From what I read here, Walgreen's and CVS have good plans/prices and then there are the goodrx and other sites. Further, the penalty becomes less of a concern the longer I live, because how many years do I have left to pay a higher premium for Part D? So I'll worry about the value of a Part D when and if the time comes. For those who don't take meds and also don't want Part D penalty exposure, buy the cheapest Part D plan just as a cya.
My understanding is that if someone is on Medicare that need to get Part D drug insurance. If you choose not to get it, I thought you are penalized for a percentage and it is taken out of your monthly SS amount.
I'm American, and when I need a prescription filled, I get it at the local pharmacy, no problem. All the routine meds I take are free through Medicare. No knocking the system here.
I learned the hard way to use GoodRX in combination with Costco. Anyone who has a Costco nearby with a pharmacy should go to the GoodRX site and lust all their medications. I did that and saw that if I didn’t even use the GoodRX coupon it was cheaper than my part D plan without even considering the premiums. This fall I may be going without a part D plan altogether.
My understanding is that if someone is on Medicare that need to get Part D drug insurance. If you choose not to get it, I thought you are penalized for a percentage and it is taken out of your monthly SS amount.
My understanding is that if someone is on Medicare that need to get Part D drug insurance. If you choose not to get it, I thought you are penalized for a percentage and it is taken out of your monthly SS amount.
I could be wrong about that, maybe.
You are wrong about that. My mother has never had a part D medicare plan, and there is no penalty deducted from her monthly SS checks.
The penalty comes in where someone enrolls in a Part D plan at a later date than when they first become eligible for it. They are charged an additional surcharge for a Part D plan, the amount depends on how long they waited after they first become eligible.
My understanding is that if someone is on Medicare that need to get Part D drug insurance. If you choose not to get it, I thought you are penalized for a percentage and it is taken out of your monthly SS amount.
I could be wrong about that, maybe.
No - both Part B and Part D are optional. There is no penalty for not enrolling when first eligible. But, if one enrolls late in either Part B or Part D, unless one qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period, the late-enrollment penalty is added to the monthly premium for each plan.
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