Best Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in Alabama
Changes to 2021 Medicare Part D in Alabama
People with Medicare benefits in Alabama have more Medicare Part D Plan (PDP) choices in 2021. However, the initial deductibleA deductible is an amount a beneficiary must pay for their health care expenses before the health insurance policy begins to pay its share.... is now up to $445, up from $435 last year, a $20 increase over last years' standard deductible. The Initial Coverage Limit has increased to $4,130, a $110 bump over last year. The following will assist you in choosing the best Medicare Part D plan in Alabama at a price that's within your budget.
2021 Medicare Part D Standard Initial Deductible
The initial deductible is the amount that you pay before your Medicare Part D plan begins paying its share of the costs. So, if you enroll in a 2021 prescription drug plan with a standard initial deductible, you'll spend $10 more out-of-pocket in 2021 before coverage begins. Most Medicare Part D plans have an initial deductible, but many popular Medicare Part D plans exclude Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs from the deductible, giving immediate coverage on most lower-cost medications.
2021 Medicare Part D Initial Coverage Limit (ICL)
The 2021 Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) is $4,130. The Coverage Gap (donut hole) starts when you reach the ICL and ends when you hit the out-of-pocket threshold, which is now $6,550. The Initial Coverage Limit marks the coverage gap entry point. You enter the coverage gap when the total negotiated retail value of your prescription drug purchases exceed your plan’s Initial Coverage Limit.
Will You Fall Into The 2021 Donut Hole?
An easy way to estimate if you will run out of coverage is to look at the average monthly cost of your medications. If your prescriptions have an average retail value of over $335 per month, you will enter the 2021 Donut Hole at some point in the year. This assumes that your current retail drug prices remaining stable.
The 2021 Donut Hole Discount is 75% for Generic Drugs
If you reach the 2021 Coverage Gap phase of your Part D coverage, the generic drug discount will be 75%. This means your generic drug costs in the Donut Hole will be 25% of your Part D plan's negotiated retail prices. What you pay counts towards your true 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... (This amount counts toward your TrOOP).
The 2021 Donut Hole Discount is 75% for Brand-Name Medications
The 2021 brand-name Coverage Gap discount remains the same at 75%. The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for picking up 70% of the cost of medications for beneficiaries in the Donut Hole. You get credit for 95% of the retail drug cost toward meeting your 2021 total out-of-pocket maximum or Donut Hole exit point.Some plans offer additional gap coverage, so look for it on the plan information pages.
How Much Will You Spend To Exit The Donut Hole in 2021?
Your Total Out-of-Pocket Cost (TrOOP) threshold will increase to $6,550 in 2021. That's $200 more than the 2020 TrOOP limit of $6,350. TrOOP is the dollar amount you'll spend to get out of the Donut Hole or Coverage Gap and into your Medicare Part D plan's Catastrophic Coverage phase.
It's important to remember that TrOOP doesn't include 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. ... or over-the-counter purchases. Some plans offer additional gap coverage, so look for it on the plan information pages.
Don't make a decision on your choice of Part D Medicare plans based on the premium and deductible alone. It's critical that you verify that your medications are covered. You find this information, and the co-payment tiers, in the formulary. On each PDP page (above) we post links to the formulary and pharmacy web pages, and the phone numbers to contact the plan.
VITAL: Identifying the best Medicare Part D Plans requires research. What works the best for you is all about your regular prescriptions (if any), your health and what you can afford.
Did you Know Most Alabama Medicare Advantage Plans Include Prescription Drug Coverage?
There's more than one way to get prescription drug coverage with your Medicare benefits. The first way is by enrolling in one of the Medicare Prescription Drug PlansMedicare Part D is Medicare's prescription drug plan program. Plans are offered by private insurance companies and cover outpatient prescriptions.... listed above. The second way to get help paying for your prescriptions is through one of the Alabama Medicare Advantage Plans that include Part D.
Medicare Part D and Supplements Work Together
Thinking about supplemental insurance that can offer you more coverage? It's a smart move. Even with the new health care law, Medicare only covers 80 percent of the hospital and doctor bills incurred by most seniors in the great state of Alabama, leaving you to handle the rest. We make it easy to find the lowest price on the Alabama Medicare Supplement, commonly called a MedigapMedicare Supplements are additional insurance policies that Medicare beneficiaries can purchase to cover the gaps in their Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) health insurance coverage.... plan, you want. The choice is yours, because all Medicare Part D plans are compatible with Alabama Medigap plans.
Medicare Part D for Dual Eligible People in Alabama
In Alabama, if you are eligible for both Medicare and MedicaidMedicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income families and individuals in the United States.... (aka, dual eligible or Medi-Medi) you will automatically be enrolled in a Alabama Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and the Social Security Extra Help program. Extra Help pays for most of the costs of your prescriptions if you meet the eligibility requirements. You may also enroll in a plan of your own choosing that better meets your needs. If you qualified for Medicaid before you were eligible for Medicare, contact your local Medicaid office.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama Medicare Part D Plans
What is best for you may not be best for someone else. It all has to do with where you live and your regular prescriptions. These are some of the top plans in 2021:
The average cost of a Medicare Part D plan in 2021 is about $32. Be aware, though, that this figure is slightly different depending on where you live. The good news is that basic plans start near $20 per month. To check out your options in Alabama, browse to this page.
Medicare Part D plans change annually and they are different in each state. You can see all of the plans available in Alabama on this page.
PDP Eligibility and Availability
You are eligible to enroll in a Alabama PDP plan if:
- You are a resident of the state,
- You are enrolled in 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.... 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...., and
- You are age 65+ or have Medicare due to a qualifying disability.
All plans on this page are available to beneficiaries in Birmingham, Auburn, Decatur, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and all rural areas of Alabama.
Related: Compare 2021 Medicare Part D Plans in Alabama
Citations & References
medicare.gov- https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/
- What Medicare Part D drug plans cover | Medicare https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/what-medicare-part-d-drug-plans...
- Medicare.gov: the official U.S. government site for Medicare | Medicare https://www.medicare.gov/
- https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovGe...
- CMS 1696 | CMS http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms-Items/CMS012207.htm...
- MACRA: MIPS & APMs | CMS https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instrumen...
- An Overview of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit | KFF https://www.kff.org/medicare/fact-sheet/an-overview-of-the-medicare-part-d-pr...
- Medicare Part D: A First Look at Prescription Drug Plans in 2020 – Issue Brie... https://www.kff.org/report-section/medicare-part-d-a-first-look-at-prescripti...
- 10 Things to Know About Medicare Part D Coverage and Costs in 2019 | KFF https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/10-things-to-know-about-medicare-par...
- Home | State Health Insurance Assistance Programs https://www.shiptacenter.org/
The Medicare Part D information in this directory originates from CMS Landscape Source Files, is maintained by David Bynon and was last updated on .