Medicare Support Group

You should go on medicare website and research. I think I remember seeing something where you do have to have partd for assistance. I'm researching part d for my mom who can't afford the drugs on that but doesn't qualify for assistance. The medicate site is good. Good Luck

I just recently got on medicare myself. If you want help paying for prescriptions then yes you do have to have part D. Otherwise you have to pay full price for all the prescriptions you are on.

I was just on several drug companies websites looking to see if my mom qualifies for drug company assistance programs with here drugs. I saw that some don't care if you have Medicare Part D or not, in fact one won't help if you do.

If you are dealing with a drug company assistance program, I'd go to that program first and ask them. From what I read about the assistance programs you might pay more on Part D than you get through the assistance programs but it is very dependent on the drugs and company you are working with.

I dropped my mom's Medicare Part D because it hardly paid anything for her drugs and cost more in premiums and co pays than I could get the drugs in a different way.

Remember if you decline to take Part D there is a penalty each year you don't take it when or if eventually you do sign up. The penalty results in a higher premium if or when you do take it.

What a headache for next year! I was told I have to have 2 different plans for next year. Because the rules have changed can't have a company that does both?
It's going to cost money each month over $200. And being on SSD & Medicare since 2004.
I won't go to Humana, I sign up with them then I got a letter each month LAST year they won't cover my drugs. Even though they listed it as covered with Medicare.gov

Is anyone else confused?

Oh, am I ever confused!

I won my disability case in 2010 and since they paid me back 2 years I immediately received Medicare/Medicaid. I don't make enough money (under $700.00) a month therefore I get the "extra help" to pay for my medicare including part B medical and part D prescriptions. I have a co-pay on my prescriptions of $1.30 & $3.30. No other co-pay's at all. The thing I don't like is when they send me the formulary with all the covered drugs for the year, they change some of them every 90 days!! For the most part my meds are covered, what isn't covered my doctor will find something that is. The best thing to is call Medicare for the information you are looking for!

A confusing topic for sure! I have part D, and learned it depends on the patience assistance programs qualifying criteria . Some programs go off your "income" not the fact of having a script plan! I'm still receiving two meds being in patient assistance programs; these programs are based off my earned income, which is zero because I receive SSD not the fact I have a script plan. Hope these helps.

I know this post was made 2 years ago, but here is my commentary. You do not have to be on Medicare Part D for Prescription Drug Assistance (PAP). Some Prescription Drug Company's require Part D enrollment, some do not require Part D. The issue with Part D enrollment is while enrollment is not mandatory, when you eventually do enroll you will pay a 1% penality per month for every month you were elgible to be enrolled and you did not enroll. This penaliy is a lifetime penality. So I would recommened you enroll in Part D even if you are not taking Prescription Drugs. There are many afforable Prescription Drugs plans available. If you need any help please hit be back on this websit.

Darryl