Wellcare Value Script Louisiana Medicare Part D Plan

Wellcare Value Script is a 3.5 Star Rated Part D Plan for People on Medicare in Louisiana

CMS gave this prescription drug plan a quality rating of 3.5 out of 5.0 stars (Average).

These are the areas of the plan that are important to compare and review:

• Premium & DeductibleA deductible is an amount a beneficiary must pay for their health care expenses before the health insurance policy begins to pay its share....: The premium is the amount you will pay monthly. Plus, many plans have an annual deductible that must be met before cost sharingAn amount patients pay for their share of the cost of medical service or supply, like a doctor’s visit, hospital inpatient visit, or prescription drug.... begins.
• Coverage Phases: Part D plans have an initial coverage limitOnce you have met your yearly deductible, you will pay a copayment or coinsurance for each covered drug until you reach the initial coverage limit. You will then enter your plan’s coverage gap (aka, “donut..., followed by a coverage gapA period of time in which you pay higher cost-sharing for prescription drugs until you spend enough to qualify for catastrophic coverage...., and then catastropic coverage. Some plans offer some coverage in the gap.
• Co-pays & Co-insurance: If you have regular prescriptions, it's critical to verify that your drugs are covered and to know what you will pay at the pharmacy.
• CMS Ratings: Important measurements across 4 different areas that will help you understand how well this plan will care for you.

Cost Details

Wellcare Value Script is a cost-sharing prescription drug plan (PDP). There are three distinct costs: monthly premiumsA premium is an amount that an insurance policyholder must pay for coverage. Premiums are typically paid on a monthly basis. In the federal Medicare program, there are four different types of premiums. ..., an annual deductible, and co-payments or co-insurance. The annual premium on this PDP is $154.80 ($12.90 per month), and breaks down as follows:

Low-Income Subsidy ("Extra Help")

This plan does not qualify for Extra Help (low-income subsidySocial Security's Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program helps Medicare beneficiaries pay for their Medicare Part D prescription drugs by paying some of the costs. Also known as "Extra Help", beneficiaries who qualify for LIS receive premium...) benefits.

Deductible

This plan has a $480.00 deductible (annual).

For 2022, the maximum Part D deductible is $480. A plan with the maximum deductible does not necessarily mean that it is more expensive than a plan with a lower deductible or no deductible at all. You need to consider all costs.

Here's What You Pay: Premium + Deductible + Copayments

You are required to pay your premium each month, even if you don't fill a prescription. Plus, you'll pay all of your prescription costs until the annual deductible amount has been paid (if any). You'll also pay the required copayment at your pharmacy when you have your prescriptions filled. These are your costs and the plan pays the rest.

Extra Costs

There are two situations that can change your monthly premium. If your income is low and you are accepted into the Extra Help program administered by Social Security, your premium could be lower. It's also possible that your premium could be higher due to a late entry penalty. Be sure to speak with an authorized Louisiana Medicare Insurance Agent to get an exact quote for your situation.

Coverage Details

Wellcare Value Script is a Enhanced PDP. At a minimum, WellCare must offer a "standard benefit" package mandated by law. The standard benefit includes an annual deductible and a gap in coverage, aka, donut hole. Carriers may also offer plans that:

• are actuarially equivalent to the standard benefit; or
• are enhanced, offering benefits in addition to the standard benefit.

Typically, enhanced plans offer additional coverage during the coverage gap. If you fell into the donut hole last year, shop enhanced plans.

Initial Coverage Limit Phase

Confused about the initial coverage limit? Don't be, because it's straight forward. If you enroll in the Wellcare Value Script PDP, you share the cost of your prescriptions with WellCare. You each pay your share until the amount spent at the pharmacy reaches $4430.00 (retail spending amount). That's the initial coverage limit in Louisiana for plan year 2022. After that, you are not covered (coverage gap) until your actual out-of-pocket costsOut-of-Pocket Costs for Medicare are the remaining costs that are not covered by the beneficiary's health insurance plan. These costs can come from the beneficiary's monthly premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.... qualify you for catastrophic coverage. Keep reading, because you are entitled to automatic discounts.

The Part D Coverage Gap

When you fall into the coverage gap or donut hole as many people call it, you are basically uninsured and must pay for all of your prescription costs out-of-pocket. When you reach the coverage gap will all depend on your prescriptions. Most seniors never exceed the ICL and don't have to worry about it. If you are on a long-term medication that's costly, you could reach the donut hole very quickly.

In the coverage gap phase you are responsible for the full cost of your prescription drugs up until your total out-of-pocket expenses reach $7,050 (excluding premiums and expense paid by insurance) minus a 75% discount on both brand-name prescription drugs and generics. Once you reach $7,050 in out-of-pocket expenses, you're out of the coverage gap. At this point, you automatically get catastrophic coverage through Medicare, which assures you only pay a small amount for covered drugs for the remainder of the year.

Additional Gap Coverage

Wellcare Value Script does not offer additional assistance in the coverage gap. If you reached the coverage gap last year and were not able to afford your medications, be sure to check with your local Louisiana MedicaidMedicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income families and individuals in the United States.... office. You may qualify for additional assistance. The Social Security Administration's Extra Help program is another opportunity for seniors on Medicare who are not able to afford their prescriptions.

Copayment & Coinsurance Details

In addition to the monthly premium and annual deductible, the Wellcare Value Script prescription drug plan has copaymentsA copayment, also known as a copay, is a set dollar amount you are required to pay for a medical service.... (fixed dollar amount) and/or coinsurances (percentage) that you must pay when you pickup your medications. Here's the schedule for this plan:

IMPORTANT: In order to determine if this is the best PDP for you, it's critical that you look up your prescriptions in the plan's formularyA formulary is a list of prescription drugs covered by a prescription drug plan or another insurance plan offering prescription drug benefits. Medications not on a plan's formulary are generally not covered.....

Medicare Part D Star Ratings

In this section we show you the quality rating for this plan. Each year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the U.S. Federal agency that runs the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Programs.... (CMS) rates prescription drug plans in four broad categories. We do not recommend joining a plan with an overall rating less than 3.0. The following marks will give you an idea of the level of care you will receive if you join this WellCare plan.

Contact WellCare

Here's the new member contact information for WellCare:

For assistance 24 hours a day, call 800-633-4227. TTY users should call 877-486-2048. If you qualify for Medicare but have not yet enrolled or verified your enrollment status, you can do so on the Social Security Administration website. You can learn more about the Medicare Part DMedicare Part D plans are an option Medicare beneficiaries can use to get prescription drug coverage. Part D plans provide cost-sharing on covered medications in four different phases: deductible, initial coverage, coverage gap, and catastrophic. Each... program on www.medicare.gov. For information about the SSA's Extra Help program, download the Understanding Extra Help guide.

Compatibility

This stand-alone Medicare Part D plan is compatible with Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance), and all Louisiana Medigap plans. It's also compatible with Medicare Part C plans in Louisiana, so long as the plan does not include prescription drug coverage.

Availability

If you are entitled to Medicare Part A (enrolled or not) or currently enrolled in Medicare Part B you may join the Wellcare Value Script prescription drug plan. Unless you also receive benefits from Medicaid, enrollment in a Part D plan is voluntary. This plan is available in New Orleans, Metairie, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Kenner, Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria, and all other towns and cities in Louisiana.

The Medicare Part D information on this page originates from CMS Landscape Source Files, is maintained by David Bynon, and was last updated on October 10, 2021 .