Eliquis® is an expensive brand-name prescription that our clients ask us about quite often. When a Medicare enrollee is taking an expensive prescription like Eliquis it is important to select a Medicare Part D plan that covers the drug well. Medicare Part D plans are government regulated and, for the most part, they are all structured the same. That said, they each unique in their competitiveness for different lists of prescriptions. We have found that the best way to compare

We are intimately familiar with the challenges seniors face regarding the cost of their medications. Sure, certain common generic medications can be free or inexpensive with a Medicare Part D plan in place, but it's the expensive brand name drugs that cause financial hardship. The full retail cost of an expensive brand name drug can cost thousands of dollars for a one month supply. Regardless of having a good Medicare Part D plan, the cost of the co-pay can often be hefty eve

A recent Yahoo Finance article brought to light some unfortunate issues with the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. According to the article, the vast majority of seniors are enrolled in the wrong Part D plan: "A study conducted by Yale and MIT researchers found that a significant amount of seniors selected plans that weren’t right for them. According to the study, only 11% of patients chose the best plan in 2006; by 2009 that number had shrunk to 2%." Seniors enrolli

Rosuvastatin is the generic form of Crestor, a drug that reduces bad cholesterol. As you might imagine, it's a very popular prescription drug among seniors. In 2018, some Medicare Part D prescription drug plans completely covered Rosuvastatin, which allowed seniors to fill their prescription for free. This year, however, many of those same plans have updated their drug formularies. As a result, seniors who paid $0 to fill their Rosuvastatin prescription might end up paying $4

Good news: Carriers have released their Medicare Part D pricing for 2019 plans and the average plan premium has declined from 2018. In 2018 the average prescription drug plan premium was $33.59 per month. It'll reduce to $32.50 in 2019. The main reason for the drop in premiums is due to some new carriers entering the market with very low premiums. That said, many plans are getting increased premiums next year, so it's important to check the status of your current plan to see

Each Fall Medicare's Annual Open Enrollment begins with an onslaught of Medicare-related advertisements. TV commercials starring doctors with clipbooks, radio ads touting competitive rates, and newspaper clippings offering to find a plan that covers everything. Clearly Medicare's Annual Open Enrollment is an important time, but unfortunately, the volume of advertising often leads to confusion. Let's address some of the main misconceptions about Medicare's Open Enrollment Peri

The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment ("AEP") is important, but not for purposes of purchasing a Medicare Supplement plan. Let's explore what you need to know about AEP, also called the Medicare Fall Open Enrollment Period. Medicare Fall Open Enrollment Period The Medicare Fall Open Enrollment Period occurs annually between October 15 and December 7. This open enrollment period is relevant to Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) and prescription drug plans (Medicare Part

If you're over age 65, you probably know the Medicare's Annual Election Period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. What you might not realize, however, is that this election period isn't only relevant to folks looking to sign up for Medicare benefits. No, the election period is also an important opportunity for you to evaluate your current prescription drug or Medicare Advantage plans. But maybe you're happy with your current plan. Maybe your prescription drugs