Hello all,

I am wondering if anyone knows the best course of action to try to find out if my parents have the best prescription coverage that they can? I understand that there is a little window right now that they can change things, but getting on their website didn't help at all. I dont' think they would talk to me unless I said I was my mother, hmmmm, that might work. One drug Mom is on is $409 a month and only about $34 is taken off by their Medicare discount.

Thanks,

~Kelly~

Kelly,
Go to the post by Karenleen called "Caregiver Resource for Medicare". I haven't read the whole thing, but I think you may find some info on there. I also posted an answer to her post.

Mom has had prescription coverage for years through what they call Circuit Breaker-Illinois Care RX in Illinois. Every state I'm sure is different. But that website gives you info for whatever state you're in from what I saw.

Hope this helps.

Jackie

Kelly,
Most pharmacies have brochures on different plans to help with prescription coverage. You may want to ask you pharmacist if they have that info. Plus some time ago Mom received a 2009 booklet from medicare called Medicare and you - 2009.

At the end of the booklet is many pages of insurance companies in Illinois that have prescription coverage available for monthly fees from $30/month up to $103/month. Some have $0 copays, some have more, and some have deductibles. In other words, after you pay lets say $200 for medicines, the rest are $0. So when you request your booklet, I imagine they will ask you what state and county your in.

Call this Toll free number and see if they will send one of these books to you - 1-800-633-4227. The website they have listed is www.medicare.gov

You might want to look through some of your parents things and see if possibly they might have already received one of these booklets. Mom received hers about 2 weeks ago. I don't remember if she did before or not, but I'm sure she did. I guess I'm just more interested now in the services medicare provides more than I used to.

Again, hope this helps.

Jackie

Kelly,
Me again. Just went to the above website for medicare. Seems like you can download that booklet to your computer and read it. Go to some of the other things on the left of the screen. I think this may help you find what your looking for.

Jackie

Kelly, something else you can do is contact the manufacturer of the medication your mother takes and see if you are eligible for her to recieve it free of charge. Many times these companies will give the medication to those who meet the requirements. We did this with my mom and there is a bit of paperwork involved but not much. Basically they send you paperwork, the dr. fills out his portion and you send it back. It will need to be updated yearly.

Kelly,

Ask the doctor's office if they have a Patient Assistance Program Coordinator. My friend is the PAP coordinator for the biggest local medical group here in town. She is the liason with the drug companies to get paperwork filled out, sent off, and determining eligibility for free medications. There is also a resource person who works for the biggest local medical group (you know the one--they just build a new hospital), who takes all your paperwork and helps you analyze things to find the best program for you. That's her job and hardly anyone knows about her. My friend is helping to spread her good name. You need to get in with her soon if you can, though, because she'll get busy by the end of the year when everyone is up for free enrollment.

Blessings.

~Ann

They definitely can get help with the prescriptions by getting Part D drug insurance - BUT - if mom is on ALZ meds, she will use her $2500 yearly allotment by May or June of 2009, I'm just warning you. My mom at the beginning of this year was taking Exelon and she began to pay out of pocket in May. Her other medications are generics and very inexpensive.

Some months we can get samples from the doctor's office and some months we pay for the prescription ($197/month just for that drug).

Usually, your local pharmacy can do a printout of your parents' medications and how the different drug plans offered in your area compare as far as premiums and drug pricing so you can get an idea of what their part of the cost will be.

Wow, thanks everyone for all of the information. My parents wouldn't qualify for any assistance, but nevertheless, with the cost of prescriptions and now the facility I want to do everything I can to help out and find the best plan for them. I did set my daughter to calling 4 pharmacies to compare prices of the drugs she is on, wow, so glad I did, there was a $135 difference in Seroquel between pharmacy's. Unbelievable. And just so you know, Costco was the cheapest.

I guess I have my work cut out for me checking out all that you have given me, again, thank you all,

~Kelly~

Kelly:

If your parents are in a facility which obtains and dispenses the meds, find out who the pharmacist for the facility is and speak to him/her. My Mom's facility's pharmacy coordinator was able to find the best plan available for her. It cost double the previous Plan D program I had used, but it saved thousands of $ this year. Mom entered the donut hole in May and exited it in July, unlike last year where she spent 6 months in the hole. Also, the copays on the meds are less.

I still want to force every member of Congress to personally try to choose the best plan for a long given list of meds using the medicare site and see how well they do. Betcha they couldn't do it! There is a special place in purgatory for the designers of this system.

I agree 100%, ytramsmith.
Thanks for the post...
Carol