Medicare Part B....

[kadee79]

Going up in 2020...

www.medicarefaq.com/faqs/medicare-changes-2020/


Between this & the increase in my Part D, I'm going in the hole next year...that little increase won't cover them both.

[Blonde Granny]

I don't know now what I'm paying for Medicare A & B. It comes out of the SS check each month, that's all I know. My supplement is a generous benefit from the VA and costs me $ 0 per month, but does carry a $50/year deductible. I've hit that deductible every year since it went into affect. I also don't have to carry a Part D as it is another VA benefit. As long as I receive all my meds from the VA there is no cost. IF (and it's happened this month) any drugs I have to buy locally cost me a 40% copay. So far this month I've paid close to $100.

I'm super grateful from Medicare and it's entire program of A, B & D. I've spent more in 10 years of Medicare money than I ever paid in. No complaining from me.

[Gardening Grandma]

Nov 9, 2019 23:01:52 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Going up in 2020...

www.medicarefaq.com/faqs/medicare-changes-2020/


Between this & the increase in my Part D, I'm going in the hole next year...that little increase won't cover them both.

My Part D would have doubled for 2020.  I called Humana and found out they will be offering 3 Part D plans.  I opted for the cheapest plan (as I don't take any presc meds) and now my Part D will go from $26.60 (Humana Part D Rx Plan)    to $13.20 (Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan)

[Gardening Grandma]

Nov 10, 2019 6:50:17 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I don't know now what I'm paying for Medicare A & B. It comes out of the SS check each month, that's all I know. My supplement is a generous benefit from the VA and costs me $ 0 per month, but does carry a $50/year deductible. I've hit that deductible every year since it went into affect. I also don't have to carry a Part D as it is another VA benefit. As long as I receive all my meds from the VA there is no cost. IF (and it's happened this month) any drugs I have to buy locally cost me a 40% copay. So far this month I've paid close to $100.

I'm super grateful from Medicare and it's entire program of A, B & D. I've spent more in 10 years of Medicare money than I ever paid in. No complaining from me.

Same here.  That's why I vote for politicians who won't gut Medicare.

[kadee79]

Nov 10, 2019 8:00:41 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Nov 9, 2019 23:01:52 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Going up in 2020...

www.medicarefaq.com/faqs/medicare-changes-2020/


Between this & the increase in my Part D, I'm going in the hole next year...that little increase won't cover them both.

My Part D would have doubled for 2020.  I called Humana and found out they will be offering 3 Part D plans.  I opted for the cheapest plan (as I don't take any presc meds) and now my Part D will go from $26.60 (Humana Part D Rx Plan)    to $13.20 (Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan)

I tried calling Humana...the only one that services my area.  The first call I got someone who read something off in a monotone and ran all the wordstogetherlikethissoIcouldn'tunderstand them.
The second time I called, I got a nice guy but there was so much background noise I couldn't hear what he was saying either.
The third time I called the person wouldn't speak loud enough for me to hear them.
I have hearing aids, I had my phone on speaker which normally makes it loud enough I can hear the other person. 
I can't find any place that I can email or have a live chat with anyone there...and that's what I need. 
Guess I'll send a letter to see if I get a response to that.

[wvugurl26]

You can go to the Medicare plan finder and put in your zip code, preferred pharmacy and current prescriptions. It will give you the plan options in your area, the monthly premium costs and the drug costs. I used it for my grandma.

[Gardening Grandma]

Nov 10, 2019 12:37:41 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

You can go to the Medicare plan finder and put in your zip code, preferred pharmacy and current prescriptions. It will give you the plan options in your area, the monthly premium costs and the drug costs. I used it for my grandma.

This works too. 
I went to myhumana.com and was able to print out the 3 plans with coverages and premiums.  I plan to sign up online.

If you want to PM me, I can give you the tel # of the Humana guy I talked to.  He was easy to understand.

[kadee79]

I typed a response to this yesterday...where did it go?


I will try both of  the suggestions here to see what happens.  I also got some good advice from a gal on another board who assists seniors with choosing the right plans for them, but she is in the NE & I'm in the SE...so several things are different.

GG, I may send you a PM later....thank you.

[Value Buy]

A little confused....Part D is prescriptions only?
Our paperwork is up north rather than with us in Florida, so will check it out when we go back in a week.
As I remember, our part B went up slightly, and cannot remember the prescription portion at this time, or maybe that had not been released before we left.......
We both thought we were ok as far as the increase not being more than the social security increase.
The article looks like anyone joining the system AFTER 2020 are hit harder than people already on social security. Am I reading that correctly?
My wife was hit with the donut hole on prescriptions, so we learned a heck of a lot about that, so no more 90 day scripts on new medications until we know there are no side effects......so we should save out of pocket dollars because it will take longer ( or not at all) to max out the prescription cost next year

[Gardening Grandma]

Yes Part D is presc drugs only

[kadee79]

Ok GG, I can't find the drug list at Humana.  I've been on several places in it.  I wish to heck they had a live chat or a place where you could ask for something & it would connect you.

Going to try what wvu suggested, but not until tomorrow...my brain is fried after going thru so much Humana stuff!   As far as I know, Humana is the only one that covers Part D only in Ga.!

[wvugurl26]

Google says 10 different companies offer stand alone Part D plans in the state of Georgia. Now whether those companies cover all zip codes is a different story.

[kadee79]

Nov 13, 2019 21:23:21 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Google says 10 different companies offer stand alone Part D plans in the state of Georgia. Now whether those companies cover all zip codes is a different story.

Right.  There are several that cover my zip code now.   Back when I first signed up with Humana, they were the only ones available in this area.
Thank you all for all the help.  
That gal on the other board gave me step-by-step instructions by going to Medicare.gov...it worked.  I entered all of my scripts to make sure they were covered and got an approximate $$$ for the year...out of pocket after my deductible is met...which happens on my first script I fill.  The difference in the monthly premiums from the plan Humana stuck me in & the one I signed up for is about 1/2 and my out of pocket is less too! 
Humana had already put me in the highest priced plan and had already sent me a payment book...the first time I'd gotten a payment book this early...usually they waited until at least mid Dec. to send it.  I know I've had to call twice to make sure it was sent so I could snail mail my payment before the due date...one time I just sent in the same payment I'd had the previous year without their little slip...I just put all my info on a piece of paper & attached my check.  So now they get to send me a new payment book with the  premium price for the plan I signed up under! 

[Value Buy]

Nov 9, 2019 23:01:52 GMT -5 kadee79 said:

Going up in 2020...

www.medicarefaq.com/faqs/medicare-changes-2020/


Between this & the increase in my Part D, I'm going in the hole next year...that little increase won't cover them both.

Okay, my wife did the due diligence....
Medicare part B will not hurt us.
My part D is a no brainer as my meds will never meet the minimum amount.....Deductible is $350
My wife's is the killer.
She will be on insulin and Jardinence for the full year and she hits the donut hole by July. Her deductible is $350 also. after she hits the donut hole the these two drugs cost her $240 to $250 a month out of pocket for both as well as the Part D premium....
You will now find me as a greater at a local Wal Mart outlet possibly near you.......

[Gardening Grandma]

So our Part B will go up $9.10
Part D will go down $13.40 (due to changing plans)
And we switched from Plan F to Plan G, lowering the premium by $38.23
Net change is a decrease of $42.53 each.

Of course, I now have to set aside enough to cover the Medicare deductible ($195 each).

I'm mulling over the thought of changing my own Plan G to a high deductible Plan F.  That would lower my premium significantly (from $181.40 to $68.89). The high deductible is $2300.