Page 48 - January 2024 Issue.indd

Human Service of the event. If you other options to reduce the cost. If

were affected, you should have received this is not successful, call your plan to
another form letter informing you that find out what tier the drug has been
Spot valid as of December 29. Affected ask what the process is to appeal the
Senior your old Medicare number is no longer
assigned on the plan’s formulary. Th en
Medicare beneficiaries should have
tier to have the medications designated
received their new Medicare number/ tier changed.
card by now. You need to contact
Senior Moments The formulary of a given drug plan is

all your health care providers and
by Mary Moran pharmacies with your new Medicare the list of drugs the plan covers. Th e
410-479-2535 or 410-490-3078 number. Be sure to take it with you to formulary may have anywhere from
all your appointments. If you are among three to five tiers. A tier is nothing

Happy New Year Folks! those who were affected and work with more than a specific grouping of drugs,

SHIP, please notify us as well! Destroy and these groupings are the basis for

Things we never thought possible 30 your old card and remember these the costs of your prescription drugs.
years ago are now commonplace. Th e Each plan negotiates pricing with
cretins attack in many ways so, as you
internet and cell phones have been drug manufacturers, which in turn
move into tax season, protect yourself
game changers, and we frequently determines what they charge Medicare
by shredding unnecessary documents
shake our heads in wonder that the containing your personal information! beneficiaries. Generally, the lowest tier

only thing missing from Star Trek has the lowest cost.
gadgetry is the transporter! Funny how With Open Enrollment still fresh
it is not unrealistic to contemplate how on our minds, I’m sure many are In a 5-tier plan prescription drug
breaking down matter into molecules wondering how the breach could aff ect levels are organized as follows with
and moving them as a mass may well their recent 2024 enrollments into new corresponding copay amounts:
be the way my grandchildren will travel prescription drug plans. All RX plans • Tier 1: Preferred, low-cost
from place to place! Tahiti, anyone? will receive incident-related enrollment generic drugs
codes alerting them about the Medicare
Unfortunately, all these incredible number changes. Their internal systems • Tier 2: Non-preferred,

advances have come with down low-cost generic drugs
have a process in place to deal with the
sides. One of the negative sides of the
new information. Please, do not call *Note: Medicare Tier 1 and Tier 2
internet is the prevalence of bottom
SHIP since details related to specific drugs do not kick in the annual “D”

feeders inflicting security breaches on beneficiaries, plans, or geographic
databases. If you were one of 407,000 deductible- meaning your out-of-
information are not available. pocket costs for drugs on these two
victims of the security breach that
occurred to the Medicare external If your new Part D plan covers your tiers do not apply to the deductible.
contractor, Maximus, back in November medications, but your co-payment is (Full max deductible for 2024 is $535)

of ’23, you were notified by a form letter very expensive for a particular drug, You must pay the full negotiated price
from the Department of Health and first talk to your pharmacist to examine for drugs on the formulary in the initial

stage until you have spent the full out
of pocket costs required to reach your
TURNING 65? deductible. Note that some plans have
lower or no deductibles. Read the
Confused about all the Medicare Terms & Options? front pages of your formulary booklets
Let Me Help You! to confirm what yours is. Generally,
the deductible applies when you are
purchasing Tier 3 and up medications.
Once you have met your deductible,
Anthony Insurance Services the Medicare plan coverage kicks in
Ann M. Anthony and you will only pay a portion of the
retail cost.
• Tier 3: Preferred brand name and
Specializing in Medicare Supplemental Plans, some higher cost generic drugs
Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Part-D Plans, • Tier 4: Non-preferred
Dental and Vision, Long Term Care, and Life Insurance brand name drugs and
Call Ann Today for an Appointment 410-708-0899 • anthonyins17@gmail.com some non-preferred highest
22850 Fleming Road, Denton, MD 21629 cost generic drugs

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