MedicareBlue Rx Premier North Dakota Medicare Part D Plan

MedicareBlue Rx Premier is a 4.5 Star Medicare Part D Plan for Medicare Beneficiaries in North Dakota

CMS gave this prescription drug plan a quality rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (Above Average).

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

• Premium & Deductible: The premium is the amount you will pay monthly. Plus, many plans have an annual deductible that must be met before cost sharing begins.
• Coverage Phases: Part D plans have an initial coverage limit, followed by a coverage gap, 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

MedicareBlue Rx Premier does not pay all costs; it's a cost-sharing plan. If you join, you share in the overall costs with MedicareBlue Rx by paying a monthly premium, an annual deductible (if applicable), and copaymentsA copayment, also known as a copay, is a set dollar amount you are required to pay for a medical service.... and/or coinsuranceCoinsurance is a percentage of the total you are required to pay for a medical service. ... at your pharmacy.

Low-Income Subsidy

This plan is not available to people receiving full Low Income Subsidy (LIS) benefits.

Deductible

This plan has a $0.00 deductible (annual).

A zero dollar ($0.00) deductible means you have first dollar coverage. Many Part D Plans have a deductible (up to $435 per year in 2021) that must be paid before your prescription coverage assistance kicks in.

You Pay the Premium + Deductible + Copayments

Be aware that you must continue to pay your monthly premium even when you are not using any medications. Also, it's important to plan ahead because you are responsible for one hundred percent of your prescription costs until the plan's deductible has been met. You also make the required copayment when you pick up your prescriptions. These are your share of the prescription drug costs. The plan pays the rest until you reach the coverage gap (aka, “donut hole”).

What You Pay Could Be Different

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 North Dakota Medicare Insurance Agent to get an exact quote for your situation.

Coverage Details

MedicareBlue Rx Premier is a Enhanced PDP. At a minimum, MedicareBlue Rx 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

It's important to understand the initial coverage limit (ICL) and how it applies to you in North Dakota. The ICL is where you share the cost of your prescriptions with the insurance company. You and MedicareBlue Rx each pay your share until you reach a total of $4130.00 (retail spending) spent at the pharmacy on prescriptions. At that point, you pay all costs yourself because you're in the coverage gap, as explained below.

Coverage Gap (aka, Donut Hole)

When you reach the coverage gap, commonly called the donut hole, you pay for your medications yourself. Most seniors never go into the coverage gap, but it is possible to hit it quickly if you have expensive long-term prescriptions.

If you reach the ICL (most people don't), then you are responsible for 100% of your prescription costs until your out-of-pocket costsOut-of-pocket costs (aka, out-of-pocket medical expenses) are costs that a beneficiary must pay because their health insurance does not cover them. Out-of-pocket costs are found in the deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance outlined in each health... hit $6,350 (excluding your 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. ... and the amount paid by the plan). This is called the coverage gap or donut hole. The good news is that you get a 75% discount on your brand-name prescription drugs and your generic medications while you're in the gap. You get to the other side of the donut hole when you've spent $6,350, at which point you automatically qualify to receive catastrophic coverage from Medicare.

Additional Gap Coverage

MedicareBlue Rx Premier offers some additional assistance in the coverage gap. See the plan's Summary of Benefits for details. If you reached the coverage gap last year and were not able to afford your medications, be sure to check with your local North Dakota 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 MedicareBlue Rx Premier prescription drug plan has copayments (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 formulary.

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 MedicareBlue Rx plan.

Contact MedicareBlue Rx

Here's the new member contact information for MedicareBlue Rx:

Prospective Members:	(866)434-2037
TTY Users:	(711)-
Plan Website:	http://www.YourMedicareSolutions.com
Formulay Information:	http://www.YourMedicareSolutions.com
Pharmacy Information:	http://www.YourMedicareSolutions.com

For assistance 24 hours a day, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048 or visit www.medicare.gov

Compatibility

This stand-alone Medicare Part DMedicare Part D is Medicare's prescription drug plan program. Plans are offered by private insurance companies and cover outpatient prescriptions.... plan is compatible with Medicare Part AMedicare Part A is hospital inpatient coverage for people with Original Medicare, whereas Part B is medical coverage for doctor visits, tests, etc.... (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical coverage for people with Original Medicare. It covers doctor visits, specialists, lab tests and diagnostics, and durable medical equipment. Part A is for hospital inpatient care.... (medical insurance), and all North Dakota Medigap plans. It's also compatible with Medicare Part C plans in North Dakota, 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 MedicareBlue Rx Premier prescription drug plan. Unless you also receive benefits from Medicaid, enrollment in a Part D plan is voluntary. This plan is available in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo, and all other towns and cities in North Dakota.

The Medicare Part D information on this page originates from CMS Landscape Source Files, is maintained by David Bynon, and was last updated on June 23, 2021 .