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How To: Find a Part D Drug Plan

Medicare Part D is a voluntary prescription drug benefit that helps cover the cost of most outpatient prescription drugs and some vaccines. Part D is available to anyone who qualifies for Medicare. We have provided a guide for how to navigate the website for coverage signup.

Step 1

Go to www.medicare.gov. Always log into your personal account.

 

Creating an account is easy. You will need your Medicare card!

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It is simple to reset the password and to find your username.

Step 2

If you are exploring for someone else and don’t have all of their information, you can still do that following this path.

 

No log in is needed, but you will have to input all the correct medications.

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Some of these steps may appear differently.

Step 3

Let’s continue as if you are logged in.
 
The opening screen is very valuable as it shows your current plans and all plans you have had in the past. It also shows your deductible amount.
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Note the messages section. I recommend you add your email address to your profile, as the messages from Medicare are timely and informative.
 
I do not recommend you set up 2-step verification if someone helps you with your Medicare and they need access.

Step 4

Now click on the Health and Drug Plans at the top and in the Find and Compare, click on Find health and drug plans.

Step 5

​When the next screen appears, you will see your current plans at the top. Scroll down and make sure your pharmacy list is populated.

I suggest you provide at least two as you will then get a very competitive analysis. You may have a favorite pharmacist, and you may pay more to use that pharmacy.

This person has no drugs listed. The next slide will show a person with drugs already in their account.

Step 6

If there are no drugs and you are ready to shop, click on the bottom green button that says Find Plans Now.

Skip to Step 7.

Step 6A

If you have medications in your account you will see this screen.

Click on the blue button that says Edit My Drug List.

Step 6B

Check that the dosages are correct and you can add recently filled drugs.

Note that you can remove a drug you no longer take or edit if dosage needs updating.

Click on green button that says Done Adding Drugs.




The next screen is where you will shop. Click on the white box which reads Find Plans Now.

Step 7

Ensure the zip code is correct and hit Continue and the screen Find Plans Now appear

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Click Medicare dug plan Part D and click the green Find Plans

Step 8

Your screen now shows your current plan. Below that are all the plans in your zip code and it shows the best plan FOR YOU, not your neighbor and not me, but YOU in order.

This is based on your drugs and pharmacies. 

Note the Filter right above the green “Your current plan.” You can filter this if you like, BUT the plans shown are for what ever year you are searching and what is recommended based on your data.

Step 9

This was the first recommended plan for this person.

Look to the right side and under DRUGS click on View Drugs and their cost.

Step 10

There is a lot of information on this page.

First note the pharmacies. Which is PREFERRED? Note that many list higher prices that the preferred pharmacy.

If you see out of network, you will pay full retail using an OUT of NETWORK pharmacy - don’t do that!

The most important part of the page is the YEARLY DRUG COSTS BY PHARMACY. This screen shows a good example of how Costco has negotiated prices for this drug each year. This is not always the case and often this price will reflect higher, especially on brand name medications.

See the ESTIMATED TOTAL DRUG + PREMIUM. This shows TOTAL costs and when/if you will reach the Catastrophic Stage of the Part D Prescription Program and have no co-pays. 

Step 11

Scroll back to the top of the screen and you will see the green ENROLL button on the far right. Above that you will be able to print this for your use. 

This example had 3 drugs, and it would be a 4 page print out. After printing to paper or to a pdf you can now enroll for your next plan year. Click on the button and if you are logged into your account everything will populate. If you were not logged into your account, you can still enroll by filling all the information out.

PLEASE print out the final confirmation screen! There is a phone number for the plan you can call if you do not have your card.

Call before Dec. 7th if you are enrolling during the Annual Enrollment Period.

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