Page 5 - Cover Letter & Evaluation for Helen Dorroh

For the eight remaining months of 2018, the lowest-cost Part D stand-alone plan for your Rx
drugs is the Humana Preferred Rx Plan. In this plan, you will pay $668 for the remainder of the
year -- an amount that includes premiums, deductible, and co-payments and that assumes you
will continue to get monthly refills at Walgreens. If you are willing to switch to mail-order refills,
you can slightly reduce your out-of-pocket cost (by $3) but you would have a one month’s
supply of your prescriptions remaining at the end of the year.

In addition, if you are willing to switch to mail-order refills, the lowest-cost of any option is the
Humana-Walmart Rx Plan, where you will pay $648 for the remainder of the year and will have
a one-month’s supply of your prescriptions remaining at the end of the year. But Walgreens is
not a preferred pharmacy in this plan, and you could pay substantially more for short-term local
refills unless you get them at a Walmart Pharmacy.

It’s possible that you will need new prescriptions from your physicians in whatever Part D plan
you choose, but first you might check to see if they can be transferred from your current
COBRA plan to the plan you enroll in. If you decide to switch to mail-order refills, however, you
will need new prescriptions.

Even though you take several prescriptions, they are all generic drugs and relatively low cost.
Still, it would be good to identify the lowest-cost plan each year during annual open enrollment
and if it makes financial sense to do so, to switch plans. In most cases your prescriptions will be
transferred from your “old” plan to the new one. And you do not need to dis-enroll from the
old plan – when Medicare is notified that you have enrolled in a different plan, it will dis-enroll
you from your old plan at year’s end.

Finally, there are a couple of things to keep in mind as you make the transition to Medicare as
your primary coverage. On your initial visits to your doctors after May 1, show the office staff
your enrollment cards for Medicare A&B, your Medigap policy and your Part D stand-alone
plan. That will help to avoid any billing confusion. Also, you’re entitled to a free “Welcome to
Medicare” physical (see page 11 of the evaluation), but you’ll probably have to request it.

Mrs. Dorroh, please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David Armes, CFP®

Attachments
WDA:12115

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