AARP MedicareRx Walgreens Maine Medicare Part D Plan
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| Medicare Rating: | |
|---|---|
| CMS Plan ID: | S5921-384 |
| CMS Plan Year: | 2020 |
| Premium: | $34.10/mo |
| Rx Deductible: | $435.00 (annual) |
| Initial Coverage: | $4020.00 |
| Mail Order: | Coming Soon! |
| Donut Hole Coverage: | No |
| Subsidies: | No |
| Formulary ID: | 20046 |
| Benefit Type: | Enhanced |
AARP MedicareRx Walgreens is a 3.5 Star Medicare Part D Plan for Medicare Beneficiaries in Maine
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 & Deductible: The premium is the amount you will pay monthly. Plud, 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
AARP MedicareRx Walgreens does not pay all costs; it's a cost-sharing plan. If you join, you share in the overall costs with UnitedHealthcare by paying a monthly premium, an annual deductible (if applicable), and copayments and/or coinsurance 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 $435.00 deductible (annual).
For 2020, the maximum Part D deductible is $435. 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.
You Pay the 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.
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 Maine Medicare Insurance Agent to get an exact quote for your situation.
Coverage Details
AARP MedicareRx Walgreens is a Enhanced PDP. At a minimum, UnitedHealthcare 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 Maine. The ICL is where you share the cost of your prescriptions with the insurance company. You and UnitedHealthcare each pay your share until you reach a total of $4020.00 (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 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 $6,350 (excluding premiums and expense paid by insurance) minus a 75% discount on both brand-name prescription drugs and generics. Once you reach $6,350 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
AARP MedicareRx Walgreens 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 Maine Medicaid 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 AARP MedicareRx Walgreens 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 Services (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 UnitedHealthcare plan.
Contact UnitedHealthcare
Here's the new member contact information for UnitedHealthcare:
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 D 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 prescription drug plan is compatible with traditional Medicare (Part A and Part B), and all Maine Medicare supplement plans. It is also compatible with Medicare Advantage plans in Maine, so long as the plan does not include Part D.
Availability
If you are entitled to Medicare Part A (enrolled or not) or currently enrolled in Medicare Part B you may join the AARP MedicareRx Walgreens prescription drug plan. Unless you also receive benefits from Medicaid, enrollment in a Part D plan is voluntary. This plan is available in Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Biddeford, Sanford, and all other towns and cities in Maine.
The Medicare Part D information on this page originates from CMS Landscape Source Files, is maintained by David Bynon, and was last updated on .