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5 Tips For Choosing A Medicare Plan

Medicare insurance plans can be a lifesaver for senior citizens who need comprehensive health insurance, but choosing a plan can be quite confusing and frustrating. Since there are several plans available, it can be difficult to assess which plan best suits your health care needs. If you will be choosing a Medicare plan in the near future, use the following tips:

Understand Your Medications

The types of medications you take, as well as the dosage and frequency, can be an important factor when choosing a Medicare plan. If you must take medication daily to maintain your health, it is important to look for a Medicare plan that provides proficient prescription coverage in order to keep your out of pocket costs low.

Check the Ratings

Each Medicare plan is rated, and these ratings are calculated according to patient satisfaction, overall value, and several other factors. Before choosing a Medicare plan, carefully review the ratings of each one, and select a plan that has the highest rating possible.

Consider Switching Pharmacies

When you have a Medicare health insurance plan, it can be very helpful to be willing to switch pharmacies if needed. Many plans have a list of preferred pharmacies-- if your regular pharmacy is not listed, you may end up paying a lot more for your medications. Being willing to switch pharmacies if needed can save you a lot of money on any prescriptions that you need to have filled.

Look at Overall Cost

It is important to look at the overall cost and value of a Medicare plan before choosing one. Picking the plan with the lowest premiums may not be the best choice, especially if it has a high deductible and high co-payments for doctor visits and prescription medication. Evaluate your current health and choose a plan that is within your budget but also provides adequate coverage so you do not end up with a lot of out of pocket health care expenses.

See if You Qualify for Assistance

If you are in a situation where you are a senior citizen that needs a Medicare health plan, but you can't afford the premiums, you may qualify for financial assistance to subsidize the cost of your plan. To get help or to find out if you qualify for a low-income subsidy, you can contact the Social Security Administration. A subsidy can ensure that you can afford medical care as well as any medications that you need to take.

For more information, contact Health Benefit Options or a similar organization.


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