Medicare Tutorial #1: What You Need to Get Ready Before Investigating Your Medicare Plan

Medicare.gov is a powerful tool that can help you find the Medicare plans that fit your situation best. But before you get online be sure to have a four things ready to make your life a little easier.

is a powerful tool that can help you find the Medicare plans that fit your situation best. But before you get online be sure to have a to make your life a little easier.

Medicare Card and Number: This allows you to get very accurate results and information tailored for you. You can find alot of information without giving the number, but there will be areas of the final plan comparisons that will not give you the full information you need, like costs.

This allows you to get very accurate results and information tailored for you. You can find alot of information without giving the number, but there will be areas of the final plan comparisons that will not give you the full information you need, like costs.

Your Zip Code: All plans, and therefore their prices, are regional. So your zip code provides a simple way to line up the correct plans for you.

All plans, and therefore their prices, are regional. So your zip code provides a simple way to line up the correct plans for you.

List of Prescription Drugs You Take: Often the largest out-of-pocket expense for Medicare beneficiaries is their Prescription Drugs. Do a little research on this, talk to your pharmacist and find out which of your drugs is the most expensive out-of-pocket, also ask which of your drugs you should check for coverage. Not every plan covers every drug, and annually plans drop and add drugs to their drug coverage (formulary).

Often the largest out-of-pocket expense for Medicare beneficiaries is their Prescription Drugs. Do a little research on this, talk to your pharmacist and find out which of your drugs is the most expensive out-of-pocket, also ask which of your drugs you should check for coverage. Not every plan covers every drug, and annually plans drop and add drugs to their drug coverage (formulary).

The Medicare Website allows you to enter 25 drugs to compare plans, so make sure you know which of the drugs you take you need to enter to find the plan the covers your expensive pills rather than just your cheap drugs.

Know the Drugs:

• Dosage
• Amount of medication per refill (Number of pills or days)

Pharmacies You Use: Different plans have different rates for different pharmacies, both local and online. Finding the right plan for your drugs at the right pharmacies for you can quickly add up to savings.

Different plans have different rates for different pharmacies, both local and online. Finding the right plan for your drugs at the right pharmacies for you can quickly add up to savings.

Here is a short video explaining being prepared and the Medicare.gov user interface.