Part D shock!

781Florist · ‎10-16-2021

When I first signed up for Medicare I was very happy to pay a pretty premium rate for my Part B supplement. It has gone up a tad each year, but more or less as expected.

However, I was a little stunned last year when my Part D drug policy went up from $14.30 to $36.00 a month. That is a 146% increase in a single year!!

Today I called them to find out what my premium will be in 2023, because I had read that Parts B and D were likely to go down a modicum.

$66.00 a month!!! Nearly doubling last year's premium! From $14.30 to $66.00 in two calendar years! I know that Open Enrollment begins in 2 days and I have booked an appointment through my senior center to speak with a SHINE (retired senior professionals from various fields of expertise) representative to see if they can help me find a Part D plan that is not run by former loan sharks.

I have noticed on these boards that @gertrudecloset seems to be very knowledge-

able about navigating these shark infested supplement waters. Is this kind of massive

price fluctuation a common occurrence? My premiums for this plan stayed the same for nearly 3 years before suddenly going haywire. (I just this moment remembered they changed their name last year, maybe they were bought by someone new?)

Do I have any hope that there will be a few plans in a far more affordable price range?

All my drugs are Tier 1 and cheap, except for Ozempic which the drug company sends me and is not involved with the insurance.

Thank you to everyone for letting me go off on a rant and vent my anger! I hope that most of you folks aren't getting surprises (shocks!) like this!

KailaS · ‎03-09-2010

I hear your pain. Last year my Part D jumped from $32.00 to $61.70 a month. The $61.70 was on a new plan that gave me better drug prices. (I lost most of my pancreas. Therefore, I do not make much insulin and need to inject massive doses of it.) The big jump for me every year is in my Supplemental Plan. I no longer am shocked and just am happy still to be able to afford my coverage. But it jumps twice a year. (I retired mid- year, so that cost increases twice a year.)

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

My first year on Medicare, my drug plan was like $68 a month, but no deductible. Turned out to be not a good plan for me because the minute I started, they gave me notice that they would only fill my expensive drug for part of that year.

So, for 2022, I went with WellCare for like $12.60 a month, but I think the deductible was $480. But they cover that expensive drug.

I received notice that my drug plan is going down to $11 something next year and the deductible is going up some, to like $520.

Right now, I'm in the Medicare drug donut hole. I won't come out of it this year.

My plan for tomorrow is to go online, input my drug info and make sure this is still going to be a "good" plan for me.

I am positively thrilled with my supplement plan and will never change from that. And I don't know that I would pass underwriting if I changed, but I don't plan to ever change.

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?

MamaWick · ‎03-09-2010

The agent for our Part B supplement has a colleague who looks at our Part D plan every year. He will make recommendations for new Part D if needed.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness ~ Dalai Lama XIV

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace ~ Jimi Hendrix

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

We have to pay for medical care for everyone who is using medical care now. Forget about anything ever going down in cost for anyone getting a check now. Ain't gonna happen.

new nickname 4 · ‎05-21-2018

Oh my, my premium for Wellcare went down from 10.60 a month to 7.50. So sorry that your's is so high.

patbz · ‎03-10-2010

Our supplemental is BCBS which isn't inexpensive but seems to cover everything DH and I need ( and he needs plenty). We will never change because in our case "we get what we pay for".

Cookie2025 · ‎03-10-2010

@781Florist wrote:
When I first signed up for Medicare I was very happy to pay a pretty premium rate for my Part B supplement. It has gone up a tad each year, but more or less as expected.

However, I was a little stunned last year when my Part D drug policy went up from $14.30 to $36.00 a month. That is a 146% increase in a single year!!

Today I called them to find out what my premium will be in 2023, because I had read that Parts B and D were likely to go down a modicum.
$66.00 a month!!! Nearly doubling last year's premium! From $14.30 to $66.00 in two calendar years! I know that Open Enrollment begins in 2 days and I have booked an appointment through my senior center to speak with a SHINE (retired senior professionals from various fields of expertise) representative to see if they can help me find a Part D plan that is not run by former loan sharks.

I have noticed on these boards that @gertrudecloset seems to be very knowledge-
able about navigating these shark infested supplement waters. Is this kind of massive
price fluctuation a common occurrence? My premiums for this plan stayed the same for nearly 3 years before suddenly going haywire. (I just this moment remembered they changed their name last year, maybe they were bought by someone new?)

Do I have any hope that there will be a few plans in a far more affordable price range?
All my drugs are Tier 1 and cheap, except for Ozempic which the drug company sends me and is not involved with the insurance.

Thank you to everyone for letting me go off on a rant and vent my anger! I hope that most of you folks aren't getting surprises (shocks!) like this!

I would like to know how you got Ozempic free of charge. I tried going thru the drug company site but no luck

skatting44 · ‎07-26-2019

" In November 2021, CMS announced the monthly Medicare Part B premium would rise from $148.50 in 2021 to $170.10 in 2022, a 14.5% ($21.60) increase. "

" This year’s standard premium, which jumped to $170.10 from $148.50 in 2021, was partly based on the potential cost of covering Aduhelm, a drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease. " " The manufacturer has since cut the estimated per-patient annual treatment cost to $28,000, from $56,000. "

Well, I hear that it was decided that Medicare will Not cover the cost of this drug .

DSD2 · ‎01-09-2016

I retired during the pandemic and had to sign up for insurance online. Admittedly, I was lost but the kind people at SHINE were wonderful! It's an excellent idea for you to contact them. They will ask you for all the meds you take and help you find the best plans for where you live, based on your need and budget.

What you described happened to me last year. I was not going to pay that and researched other options. If you have WellCare in your area, you might wish to consider it. Next year I will only be paying $9 dollars a month (with a higher deductible than my previous plan). Only a suggestion as SHINE will likely have the best solution.

I share your frustration and wish you the very best! Please let us know how you make out.