In many instances, those who miss out on signing up for Part D must look elsewhere to find lower cost drugs. There are exceptions to this general rule of thumb. For instance, your customer may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. The senior may have moved out of the service area, had other circumstances beyond their control that precluded them signing up for Part D or they were involuntarily dropped from their Medicare Advantage Plan.
When dealing with upset and distraught customers who have missed out on signing up for Part D, always ask for the backstory to see if they may fall under one of the “exceptions.” Taking care of your existing and potential customers and being a respected insurance agent is something earned by going the extra mile for your customers.
Posted on Friday, December 30th, 2016. Filed under
Medicare.
Prescription assistance programs are another option if you have missed Part D enrollment. It is important to note that these types of programs are not “insurance,” however they can help you with the cost of prescription drugs.
When you apply for an assistance program, you have to be deemed eligible. Once that has been cleared, you usually get a membership discount card that may be used at drug stores. Be aware that you might not qualify for Part D after you enroll in an assistance program.
Always make sure you understand the parameters of the program you are applying for. By applying and being accepted, there is a chance you may not be able to enroll in Part D. There are numerous programs designed specifically for seniors and those under 65, so it is important to do your homework on what option(s) would best suit you.
One of the easiest options available to those who missed out on Part D enrollment is to search online for “prescription coupons.” You may be surprised to learn that there are hundreds of pages offering coupons on just about any drug that is available on the market today. If you do not have the time to scroll through all the content, simply do a search for the name of the drug and add the word “coupons” after it.
It might seem like a no-brainer to search for drug coupons, but it beats paying full price or going without because you missed enrolling in Part D. It happens more often than you might think. If you are proactive, you will find some creative solutions to keep your drug costs down until you can enroll in Part D.
According to president-elect Donald Trump, there is a pressing need for free market reforms in the health care industry. It appears from campaign speeches and recent media interviews that in order to create a free market for health care Obamacare may be repealed.
Mr. Trump has suggested this will happen on day one of his administration taking office. Although he has stated he would seek a total repeal of all aspects of Obamacare, recent media coverage suggests he has taken a slightly different stance on the matter and may agree to retain some aspects of it, such as extending health care coverage to students.
Mr. Trump has stated that by adhering to free market principles his government intends to restore economic freedom and certainty to Americans. He plans to make health care affordable, improve the quality of care available and broaden access to health care.
Health care under a Trump administration may allegedly be accomplished by:
• Congress repealing all or parts of Obamacare. No one should be forced to buy insurance.
• Modifying existing laws inhibiting the sale of health insurance across state lines. Full competition in the industry drives prices down.
• Permit Americans to deduct health insurance premium from tax returns.
• Review Medicaid basic options to allow those who want health insurance to access it.
• Permit Americans to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), ensuring they are tax-free and allowed to accumulate.
• Mandate price transparency for all medical professionals, particularly physicians, clinics and hospitals. Americans should be allowed to shop for the best price for procedures, exams or any medical procedure.
• Stop-grant Medicaid to states. State governments can manage Medicaid administration without federal interference. States will be offered incentives to reduce waste and eliminate fraud.
• Remove free market barriers for drug makers that offer reliable, less expensive and safe products. Americans should have more options open to them and be allowed access to less expensive, imported, dependable and safe drugs.
