Should I Replace My Medigap Insurance? Q:  What’s the best way to compare what I currently spend on my Medigap supplement and Part D plan with the costs I would pay in a Medicare Advantage plan?  My Medigap premium has increased by double digits over the past 5 years.  A:  Comparing Medicare Advantage costs with what you ...

Can Drug Plans Drop Coverage Of Brand Drugs Mid Year? Q:  My 2021 Part D plan dropped my brand drug from its formulary.  Are drug plans allowed to do this?  If the generic doesn’t work for me, am I allowed to change plans at this time of year? A: Typically, Medicare Part D plans must continue to ...

What Should I Do?  I Lost My Job And Health Insurance. Q:  The company that I worked for shut down in March because of the coronavirus, and I did not get my job back.  I lost my paycheck and my health insurance.  I’m over 65 and, because I was getting insurance through my employer, I have ...

I Thought My Co-pay Would Be $47.  Why Did I Have To Pay $453.45? Q:  I’m enrolled in a Part D drug plan.  I thought I would get my brand name drug Eliquis, for a $47 copay, but I was charged $485.45.  Why was that? A: There could be several reasons that can cause sticker shock at ...

Q:  I take a brand name drug that costs more than $400 per month in 2019 and I have a co-pay of $47.  In 2019, I hit the Part D coverage gap.  Can you tell me how much I would have to pay in the Part D doughnut hole next year? A:  The Part D doughnut ...

Can You Explain the Pros and Cons of Switching to a Medicare Advantage Plan? Q: A new Medicare Advantage plan is available in my area and the premiums are extremely low.  It would save me a lot of money this year, so I’m thinking about dropping my Medigap and Part D plan to enroll in the ...

How Would Importing Prescription Drugs From Other Countries Help People in Part D Plans? Q:  In the debate over lowering prescription drug prices, I see frequent mention of allowing importation of drugs from other countries.  How would that work for people enrolled in Medicare Part D? A:  Drug prices in the U.S. are much higher than in ...

Can You Tell Me What to Expect in The Part D Doughnut Hole? Q: I read that the Medicare Part D doughnut hole is closing.  What does that mean?  I recently started on Lantus insulin, which my drug plan covers, but with the other drugs I take, I expect to hit the doughnut hole with my ...

Q: My mom was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.  What benefits does Medicare cover for this condition?   A:  Unlike most of the top 10 causes of death, such as heart disease and cancer, which are covered in large part by Medicare, Alzheimer’s care comes with extraordinary costs that are not covered.  Medicare covers medically necessary inpatient ...

Is Congress Doing Anything At All To Address Prescription Drug Prices? Q: I was relieved when the vote to repeal and replace Obamacare failed. Could you tell me if the bill contained any provisions to lower drug costs? What does Congress plan to do now to lower drug costs? A: Although high prescription drug costs were a ...