confusing people 65 and over with health insurance and their "supplement" policies is the cruelest thing The House and Senate has allowed and condone on their voters.
I agree! I’m a well-educated person in my 40’s and a lot of the Medicare mumbo jumbo confuses me. I’m an only child, and I’m delving into these topics on aging to help my own parents. I also helped my grandmother, but she had excellent coverage paid entirely by her former employer. Private sector employers no longer offer the generous pension and retirement benefits they once did. The more I research what happens to the elderly in our country, the more I realize my husband and I will be screwed in our old age 😕
Basically they want to make business from you until your last day. I remember turning 50 and that was the beginning of all the burials insurance mails.
@@mimi1o8 I was my paternal grandparents’ POA in their final years. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see how our elderly are treated in this country. My paternal grandparents, who lived in Massachusetts, had to spend their life’s savings for nursing home care since Medicaid doesn’t kick in until almost all assets are spent down. Meanwhile, my maternal grandfather, who lived in South America, was able to receive elder care for a very reasonable price. My husband and I know we simply can’t afford to stay in this country when we retire, unless we want to impoverish ourselves. I’d rather live in a country that offers decent elder care and medical services for cash-pay patients. I’m OK knowing we won’t get the most advanced or best care because we all die of something, and we’d rather live a shorter, higher quality life than a longer life in poverty.
Hello Danielle and all the Boomer heroes! When we bought our first Part D plans I had a horrible time with the Part D coverage gap. I quickly learned to use manufacturer assistance programs. They were wonderful. I take several expensive diabetes drugs. I then use GoodRx to save as much as possible on the other drugs. This has worked well for several of my. In fact, my hospital and doctors group now provide assistance in filling out the forms for manufacturer assistance--what a blessing they have been to both of us. My husband also applies for manufacturer assistance. I'm going to attempt to shop for Part D plans for both of us. After all the Cigna problems we have had, it will be a pleasure kicking them to the curb. 😊
Just brilliant > I could totally understand every word she said > this young lady is extremely organized > i’m sending this video to my friend > who’s about to retire > these videos are very well done > thank you >
@@BoomerBenefits Boomer benefits produces very legible ,organize and a clear understanding of what people 65 are going to encounter . I’m going to watch all of them eventually before 65 !
I have a part D plan and pay the premiums but don’t use it. I found Blink Health mail order saves me about 40% over the part D. I actually get 90 day supply for less than 30 day would cost on the D. Service is great too.
Thank you for the tip. I’m new to Medicare and I have the D supplement but the medications are expensive. I notice that the prices are way better with BlinkHealth .
Another problem with Good RX is you may have to use a number o pharmacies to get the discounts. When I check them out for my savings I'd have to go to 4 different pharmacies to get the best price. Also trying to get the doctor's office to send out all of those requests is a pain.
I had to play that game getting my moms medications, saved lots of money, but honestly I was so sick it, got to the point where some stores wouldn't take it, even though GoodRX said they would, found myself almost begging them to take it....hated every minute of it....
@@Harlem56 Do you have a Kroger where you live? They automatically uses Goodrx with their own card, but you can also look to see how much the medicine will be on Goodrx. Their coupon can be a few cents higher than the coupon you get. Once you get the medicine with them, the price stays the same.
@@Harlem56 ...Your mom is blessed to have your help I can't even imagine what it's like for the elderly that don't have anyone to help them with maneuvering through this system of figuring out prescription coverage, etc.
#8 may be to use a cash back credit card to pay for the prescriptions you do buy. Use this card only for medical items & not anything else. Maybe you need to buy aspirin or other non prescription items. Get 1% to 5% rewards when you pay your monthly bill. Be sure to use auto pay so you don't miss any due dates. Pay the current amount due not the "minimum" payment. Pay no late fees or interest.
You totally missed the retail cost and relationship to coverage gap. It isn't the $3 you're paying at the counter, it's the $389 (supposed) retail cost the pharmacy/PBM is billing for the drug.
More tips… order, if you can, 90 day supplies of the drug. Also, if there is a line on the tablet, you can buy higher strengths and split the pill. Or do both for combined savings.
We have been suspicious of pharmacy WalGreens, not only for their sub par customer service, but for overcharging as well. Case and point: Showing my Plan D identification card we were told that my prescription was $71.00 -- NO WAY! I immediately hopped on my phone to the Good RX site. Cost for the very exact drug $27, but WalGreens wouldn't do it. We called Walmart who quoted $27, but it doesn't stop there. When we picked up this prescription from Walmart, the cost was only $17.00. People - I'm writing this to scream and yell to you - Take this fine lady's advise and shop shop shop. She is amazing!
Present both and see what your OOP will be. If GoodRX is cheaper, it is still sometimes possible to submit to your insurance for coverage. They may put this against your OON benefits (if applicable), but still worth the effort.
I am on expensive immunosuppressants (tacrolimis and mycohpenolate). I want to try this discount card route, but I need to be certain I can get refills when needed. Can I count on getting good discounts every time I refill? I like Walgreens and for convenience I would like to get all my refills there, even if at some times they would not be the lowest available. I am willing to pay a few extra bucks from time to time to stay with one pharmacy. And what do I do if the discount programs stop or go out of business?
I take several prescription medications and am very cost-conscious. I have GoodRx and AARP discount cards, but one of the pharmacy techs told me that they're never successful in lowering prescription costs. Assuming that she is correct, I still believe that she should check to be certain. I don't want to get into an argument with her, because this is the first pharmacy I've used, with which I haven't had major issues, and I don't want to change pharmacies again. Any suggestions on how to resolve this issue peacefully?
@@BoomerBenefits She didn't refuse to apply the codes, but made the statement that the discount cards were never successful in lowering the costs. I didn't insist because I didn't want to argue and had to admit that on previous occasions, when dealing with different pharmacy techs, the discount cards had come close but still did not lower my costs.
You said you can't use a discount or coupon and have it count towards your deductible, but what about the "Part D Lower Cash Price Policy" from Medicare?
Originally, it was against the law for a Pharmacy to offer a lower cash price unless the customer asked for it. We are now allowed to price your Part D script. BUT, the cash price does not get included into your deductible.
For meds like blood pressure medications that a person takes long term, is it possible to buy a year's worth and save money? I have read where a person can buy a year's worth at a warehouse club pharmacy without part D and save a lot of money. I have no experience with this. Is this true/not true?
Basically, no. There is no cost savings and mail order pharamcies max out at 90 day supply. The reason (supposedly) is because they want you to see your doctor and do blood tests more often than once/year for a refill. I'm sure it's also to sell you more drugs.
Hi.... if i want to use goodrx over my part d plan, how do i keep pharmacy from automatically using my part d plan ?? i mean when you go to pick up, your script is already filled and "tallied up" with your part d plan... can you have them just cancel the bill and redo under goodrx ??
If you are an inpatient, Part A should cover most of your medications. If you're an outpatient, you may have Part B cover some medications and Part D cover others.
Danielle, I understand that GoodRX and other discount drug programs gather and sell private information of their members, therefore allowing intrusive unethical marketing to potential victims of scam, the majority of which are the elderly. Also, I understand GoodRX and other discount drug programs legally (not ethically) keep potential income from pharmacists and pharmacies, especially hitting the income of "mom&pop" pharmacies hard. Please set me staright if I am misinformed.
@@fredost1504 I've used the drug store discount cards. Can you choose them over the expensive part d Medicare drug plans and still be ok with Medicare? From SC
You can review some of it here - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZrLBM7E7pc4.html We will be releasing more videos for 2024 and 2025 years coming soon!
GoodRX and Singlecare says right on the card that people with Medicare cannot use these discount cards. So even if you want to use the discount card instead of your Medicare part D you cannot.
if you live alone, and on SSI and your income is below i think is around 1400 dollars per month,,,, and if you live alone and you pay all the bills in your living expenses, you can go down to your local Jobs and Family services/Welfare/Social Services in your county and apply for MEDICAID,,, when you get qualified, the state you live in will pay your MEDICARE part B and more monthly premium that comes out of your SSI check,,, the state will pay this premium and it will be added back to your monthly check every month. I think my premium is $135.50 other is like 144.50 not sure depending on your plans but the state i live in pays this premium for me so its added back to my check. hope info helps
I will let the pharmacy fill with my husband's part d and then will check the cost on the pharmacy App after its filled and just have them redo if needed.
that is great! Some do prefer to use that instead of Part D on some medications. Just remember that if you do not have a drug plan, you will accrue a penalty for each month you go without coverage!
@@BoomerBenefits i am starting medicare next year and will be on an advantage plan because iam only 57. the big ticket med eliquis and pain meds i will get thru that but everything else will be good rx gold. i am doing lots of research before medicare kicks in so there are fewer surprises!
Correct. I'm a disabled RN, disabled at age 55 in Florida whose only income is $1,000 per month through SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). I am not eligible for Medicare's drug cost assistance called "Extra Help" because although I have below poverty level income I have an IRA. At age 55 I have more than 10 years before my retirement age of 66.5. My retirement monthly benefit will not be greater than my current $1,000/month disability benefit, so I must live very frugally in order not to take money from my IRA. Having that IRA makes me not elgible for "Extra Help."
I have presented a couple of RX type cards at the window at Walmart. They have told me they are not supposed to compare the cards to find out the best deal. Recently, I just used the GoodRX card and it seems to be good. However, many insurance companies will pay for preventative medications...such as high cholestrol or high blood pressure presriptions...when the medication is a preventative one.. Your $400 prescription (high cholestrol) may cost you nothing.
They are fools not to. Insurance companies should require, not suggest, everyone to do preventuve visits at low cost or free.The savings long run will be massive
But could with preventative medication. It could give you side effects for much worst.. Like dementia, being a physicians purpose caused problem . Since your brain needa clysterol.I am not a Dr .but do your research people .barbra oneal,and John Bergman.teaches ways to help yourself naturally .sorry no disrespect
If you delay Medicare Part D and do not have creditable coverage, you will be charged with a life-long late enrollment penalty once you do enroll in a Part D plan. If you never enroll in a Part D plan, then you wouldn't have to pay the penalty. Check out our video, You Could Be Gaining a Medicare Late Penalty Without Even Knowing It!
The biggest problem with GoodRX is that any pharmacist can refuse to accept it and there is nothing GoodRX can do about it. This happens most often if a patient is in pain management and gets scripts for narcotic pain killers.
Hi There - have you tried CleverRX? It is similar, but our clients have had good experiences with it. boomerbenefits.com/clever-rx-what-you-need-to-know/
Hi Chuck - You can use GoodRX at the pharmacy while on Medicare. However, you cannot use your Part D plan and a GoodRX coupon at the same time at the pharmacy. You would have to choose one or the other. Also, keep in mind, that if you do use a GoodRX coupon, your payment would not go towards the Part D deductible.
Some medications are pricey on a Part D Plan. You can enroll into a new plan each year, so be sure to take advantage of that. You can give us a call to review.
Hi there - that is great! We have a lot of clients who choose to do the same thing. We always recommend reviewing both to see what works best for your medications.
