Alabama Medicare Part D Plans (PDP) 2020 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

Changes to 2020 Medicare Part D in Alabama

People with Medicare benefits in Alabama have more Medicare Part D Plan (PDP) choices in 2020. However, the standard initial deductible is now $435, up from $415 last year, a $20 increase over last years' standard deductible. The Initial Coverage Limit has increased to $4,020, a 5% bump over last year.

2020 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 2020 prescription drug plan with a standard initial deductible, you'll spend $20 more out-of-pocket in 2020 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.

2020 Medicare Part D Initial Coverage Limit (ICL)

The 2020 Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) is $4,020, up 5% from last year. The Coverage Gap (donut hole) starts when you reach the ICL and ends when you spend a total of $5,100. 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.

2020 Part D Donut Hole

An easy way to estimate if you will run out of coverage is to look at that average monthly cost of your medications. If your prescriptions have an average retail value of over $335 per month, you will enter the 2020 Donut Hole at some point in the year. This assumes that your current retail drug prices remaining stable.

The 2020 Donut Hole Discount is 75% for Generic Drugs

If you reach the 2020 Coverage Gap phase of your Part D coverage, the generic drug discount will be 75% (up from 63%). 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 costs (This amount counts toward your TrOOP).

The 2020 Donut Hole Discount is 75% for Brand-Name Medications

The 2020 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 2020 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 2020?

Your Total Out-of-Pocket Cost (TrOOP) threshold will increase to $6,350 in 2020. That's $1,275 more than the 2019 TrOOP limit of $5,100. 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 premiums or over the counter purchases. Some plans offer additional gap coverage, so look for it on the plan information pages.

Choose from the available Part D Medicare plans carefully, and don't settle on a Part D plan until you know that your most expensive medications are covered at a price you can afford. This information is available in the plan's formulary. You'll find links to the formulary information, pharmacy information, and the customer service phone number on each PDP page (above).

CRITICAL: The best Medicare Part D Plans for you can only be determined by factoring in what you can afford, your regular prescriptions and your health. A bit of time spent on research will pay off in the long run.

Medicare Part D is Included with Most Alabama Medicare Advantage Plans

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 Plans 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.

Using Supplement Insurance with Medicare Part D

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 Medigap plan, you want. The choice is yours, because all Medicare Part D plans are compatible with Alabama Medigap plans.

Alabama Medicaid and Your Medicare Part D

Alabama seniors who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid (aka, dual eligible or Medi-Medi) may be enrolled in a Alabama Medicare Prescription Drug Plan automatically, as well as Social Security's Extra Help program. The Extra Help program pays for most of your prescriptions, but only if you meet the strict eligibility requirements. If the dual eligible option does not meet your needs, you have the option to enroll in a Alabama Part D plan that does. If you are already receiving Medicaid, contact your local Medicaid office for assistance in the transition to Medicare.