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

Kansas Medicare Part D 2020 Updates

There are more Kansas Medicare Part D Plans (PDPs) in 2020 than in previous years. The bad news is that the standard initial deductible is now $435 per year, that's an increase of $20 over last year. However, the Initial Coverage Limit increased 5% to a new high of $4,020.

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.

Part D Initial Coverage Limit (ICL)

The 2020 Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) is $4,020, a 5% jump over 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

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 Kansas 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 Kansas Medicare Advantage Plans that include Part D.

Medicare Part D and Supplements Work Together

Medicare does not pay for all of your hospitalization and doctor bills. Even with the new healthcare law fully in place, your Original Medicare only pays about 80 percent of your Kansas healthcare bills. We keep an up-to-date catalog of Kansas Medigap Plans, also call a Medicare Supplement, with the tools you need to find the best price and coverage. The Medicare PartD plans above are fully compatible with Kansas supplemental insurance.

Getting Medicare Part D with Kansas Medicaid

If you meet the requirements for both Medicare and Medicaid (aka, dual eligible or Medi-Medi) in Kansas, you will automatically receive a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, as well as Extra Help from Social Security. If you qualify for Extra Help, the program will cover most of the costs of your prescriptions. Even if you qualify, the dual eligible option may not suit your needs. In this case, enroll in the prescription drug plan of your choice. If you receive Medicaid now, call your local Medicaid office for assistance with your dual eligible benefits.