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SummerOnTheWay1
September 29, 2024

📋 Premiums for Medicare Drug Plans Will Be Less Next Year (AARP Article)

  • September 29, 2024
  • 60 replies
  • 27181 views

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!!

 

Open enrollment for Part D and Medicare Advantage plans begins Oct. 15.

 

By Kimberly Lankford, AARP. Published September 27, 2024.

 

Average monthly premiums for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans will decrease in 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Friday.

 

The average monthly premium for a stand-alone Part D prescription plan is projected to be $40 next year, a decline of $1.63, almost $20 annually.

 

https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2024/drug-plan-premiums.html

60 replies

SummerOnTheWay1
November 30, 2024

📎  [11/30/24] Hi @shamit , hope your turkey day went well!!!

 

I just got my 1st SNAIL mail from Wellcare out of my mailbox.

 

I thought ID card would be included.

 

Do you have yours?  🤔

 

Also in their letter mentions IF Medicare APPROVES. Since they are NOW on my ONLINE Medicare Account for my 2025 Part D plan = I am assuming I am AAPROVED.

 

*** They do say to show PHARMACY letter so it is going into my purse NOW so it is NOT left at home.  🙄

 

Lol, were you impressed as I was with all the sheets in several DIFFERENT foreign language. Yes, that's Florida for you.  👍  Needless to say they are my 1st trash items since I just took out my trash to dumpster.  🤣😂

 

Thanks my friend for all your AWESOME help!!!

 

Nicole  🙃

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
December 1, 2024

@SummerOnTheWay1  I received my card earlier in November.  Hope you received yours soon.  It appears as if things take a little longer if you go through a third party.

 

Have you received a snail mail from SilverScripts saying you have disenrolled from their plan?  I received that after I received WellCare's card.

SummerOnTheWay1
December 3, 2024

📎  [12/2/24] Hi @shamit , hope you are staying warm.

 

Lol, I am freezing my a.s off here in Virginia. But no snow for me as yet.

 

Apparently my 2nd piece of SNAIL MAIL from Wellcare is in my mailbox per my Post Office email. But, NOT believing it, so will wait for my dumpster walk on the weekend to check mailbox (on the way to dumpster). Fool me once with making an extra mailbox trip = NO 1st SNAIL MAIL Wellcare. I am thinking this maybe my ID.  🙄

 

QUESTION AS I WANT TO GO ONLINE = NO SNAIL MAIL.

 

(1) Have you received any Wellcare emails?

 

(2) I am assuming there is an ONLINE ACCOUNT for each member.

 

Thanks my friend!!!

 

Nicole  👵

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
December 3, 2024

I have received no WellCare emails.  I didn't create an account until I received 2 snail mails from them.  My husband has had them for the last year but takes no medications.  He hasn't received any emails either.  He did receive his snail mail telling him about the changes from 2024 to 2025.  For him it is great,  A drop in premium from $6.30 to $0.  A friend in Texas has WellCare and her premium is dropping from $0.50 to $0.  Her 2 or 3 prescriptions were $0 last year and $0 for this year.  Mine look to be $0 also.  Of course mine are generic.  

 

Have you created your online account?  I think you have to have your membership number to do it.  My husband has his own online account.  So, I would say Yes to there being an online account for each member.  That is if they have created one.

 

You are having so much more trouble with this than either I or my husband have had.

 

 

SummerOnTheWay1
February 8, 2025

📎  [2/7/25] Hi @shamit , so far ZERO money out of my pocket for Wellcare Part D premium. Had to fill ONE of two prescriptions. It was my Chlolestral one and that was ZERO. Lol, now to see IF Blood Pressure one is also ZERO when I run out. GOOD NEWS - Medicare blood test this year = NO pre-diabetes. I guess my daily/nightly walking and low carb Mediterrean diet my doctor suggested paid off.

 

IF you donot mind my asking, how is it going with your Wellcare Part D?

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
February 8, 2025

@SummerOnTheWay1   Things are going good for me too.  I had a UTI in January and the prescription cost me $0.  Just yesterday they filled my Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Thyroid prescriptions.  TOTAL:  $0.  Glad I was able to get these now before next week when the winter weather will hit.  We are supposed to get a wintery mix or maybe all ice.  Yuck!

 

Hopefully you have the same $0 result on your Blood Pressure one.  Congratulations on the blood test showing no pre-diabetes.  Keep up the good work.

SummerOnTheWay1
February 11, 2025

📎  [2/10/25] Did you get your FREE gift from Wellcare @shamit ?

 

Lol, mine arrived today and got all excited thinking maybe a GIFT CARD = nope, something to hang on the front of your refrigerator (Their website link,app and phone number). 🤣😂

 

They are so smart. Got me to open mail with the text on outside - Free gift without obligation. Hmmm, I DO NOT call this a GIFT Wellcare = misleading. Anyway, it will join my OTHER JUNK MAIL in the trash. 👍

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
February 11, 2025

@SummerOnTheWay1  Yes.  I received that same thing.  But I didn't pay attention to the outside of the envelope.  I didn't realize that it was supposed to be a gift.  Ha-ha.  Not much of a gift. I am just happy to be paying a $0 premium and so far $0 for my prescriptions.  My best Plan D so far, since starting Medicare.

 

I open most mail without reading the envelope.  I keep what is important and the junk that is burnable goes into a bag for burning in our wood stove.  No worries that any personal information will get into the wrong hands.  All that is left is ash.

SummerOnTheWay1
February 13, 2025

📎  [2/13/24] @shamit , hopefully my TAGGING you = you will get an AARP email "copy" of my post since @AARPConsumerCare has NOT responded to my Medicare Glitch Report. 🙄

 

Or MAYBE, glitch has been FIXED and THIS POST will "show" on site's MAIN PAGE where hundreds of complaints about AARP and Rock & Roll posts are TODAY. Seems Rock & Roll is more IMPORTANT than DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MEDICARE this year 2025. 😤

 

I need a "divorce" - the honeymoon is over girl with Wellcare after a 2-month marriage.

 

Get this.

 

On MONDAY I have 5 MORE Blood Pressure pills LEFT.

 

Red Alert = when is my NEXT REFILL going to be READY?

 

Checked CVS app on my Android.

 

Autofill on Sunday.

 

My LAST pill is on Monday and have way too much on my plate to go to CVS on Sunday OR Monday. Depending on WHAT STAFF is there or IF they are OPEN [pharmcy closes whenever when NO staff], I will be able to pick it up.

 

So I CALLED CVS, had to leave a voicemail. Didnot hear callback but saw where they had called. NO voicdmail left. 🙄

 

So I CALL AGAIN, wow - a human answered. 😱

 

Had to REPEAT what I had left on VOICEMAIL. 😤

 

Youngster said YES I could pick up refill on FRIDAY (tomorrow). I thanked her. 👍

 

Something told me to CALL just now to CONFIRM refill would be READY TOMORROW. As you know, weather been bad and MORE COMING. 😭

 

Lol, human answered 😱 and said NO. Insurance will NOT let them "override".

 

Alrightie, didnot have my OLD LADY TANTRUM (trying to be the grown up here) and said okay.

 

QUESTION: How far in ADVANCE is Wellcare letting you refill?

 

Are you having it mailed or pickup?

 

*** SilverScript NEVER "cut it this close" and I am SO ANGRY. ***

 

Thinking of CALLING Wellcare once I CALM DOWN to ask IF I am stuck with this ONE DAY BEFORE I RUN OUT refill for Blood Pressure Med. Or is this an error on the part of whatever SOFTWARE they using.

 

Chlolestral was FILLED A WEEK before I ran out.

 

Thanks 👵

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
February 13, 2025

@SummerOnTheWay1  WOW! I haven't had any problem so far.  They filled my thyroid 5 days before the autofill was scheduled.  My thought is that CVS had been the problem.  They don't want to fill autofill prescriptions until 1 day before you run out.  The problem with that is if the autofill hits on a weekend, they sometimes don't fill it until Tuesday.  

 

I pick mine up at the local CVS.  I don't like mail because it gets very hot here in the summer and I don't trust if the heat can cause problems with the medication.  I also get a 3 month supply at a time.  I had my doctor write the prescription that way.  Then I only have to hassle with it 4 times a year. 

 

I would try calling again.  Sometimes the workers just don't know what they are doing or simply don't even try to get the prescription filled.  It doesn't make sense they would fill your cholesterol a week ahead and not your blood pressure medication more than a day ahead.  Makes me think someone at CVS is lazy or inept.  CVS is not known for being good.  Most of them around here get ratings in the 2's.  

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
February 14, 2025

@SummerOnTheWay1  I am happy to hear that you got your Blood Pressure Refill.  I still say that person you talked to didn't know what they were saying or doing.  I think when they said they couldn't override it, they actually did override it.  Again I think it is more a CVS thing than a WellCare thing.  

 

I have to fight nearly every time for my Thyroid Medicine.  They don't have it and have to order and a week later it is still not there.  Then they transfer it to another CVS in the area and they fill it.  And most of the time they wait until day 89 of 90 to refill.  So I always ask to get it refilled about 7-10 days before needed.   And I have had 3 different Drug Plans, and it always seems to be the same thing.  To me it is CVS.

 

Sorry to hear about the bad weather.  Stay safe.  We had an inch of sleet and freezing rain Wednesday.  They are calling for snow tomorrow and on Wednesday.  It will be very cold for the next 10 days.  Next Thursday are high is supposed to be 18.  Most days in the 20's and 30's.  We are supposed to be in the mid 50's.  We also went out today and stocked up so we can stay home for the next week.  

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

SummerOnTheWay1
February 25, 2025

📎  [2/24/25] @shamit , have you received any Medicare Part D Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from Wellcare? 🤔

 

I received my 1st one today in my mailbox.

 

Wondering IF I can get this "changed" to ELECTRONIC ONLY.

 

Lol, had just got SilverScript set up after fighting with them ALL OF 2024.

 

I guess I will call Wellcare THIS FRIDAY when I am home all day = probably a long wait on hold and some foreigner. Was so frustrated when I had called them about my MISSING membership card they claimed was sent. Lady was nice, but it took forever to get her to understand what I was complaining about. Oh well, sign of the times I guess and a test of my old lady patience. 🤣😂

 

Thanks,

Nicole 👵

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
February 25, 2025

I haven't received anything yet.  I had a prescription filled in January but and 3 here in February.  Don't know if or when I'll get an EOB.  I did look at my account online and saw the claims and that I paid $0 on all of them.  

 

Under the communications preferences they said EOB are not electronic unless you log in to Express Scripts and set it up.  So I guess I should get something in the mail  But our mail is terrible.  So much is misdirected.  I think many people just throw out the stuff that isn't theirs.  At least I can see online what was filled and my cost.  I wonder how often they send EOB's.

SummerOnTheWay1
March 25, 2025

📎  [3/24/25] @shamit , did your 1st Wellcare EOB arrive in your mail as yet?  🤔

 

As previously discussed, I got my 1st EOB.

 

➡️  *** TODAY I got an email from my post office (I signed up) telling me there is mail from Wellcare (with a picture of mail) in my mailbox.

 

Lol, learn't real fast this does NOT mean it is IN my mailbox. Will check box probably this weekend when I take my trash to dumpster. NOT making a special trip.

 

I am thinking MAYBE it is my 2nd EOB. Who knows.

 

Lol, hope it is NOT a letter "changing" my FREE ride = zero cost.

 

Hmmm, Spring is here on some days here in Virginia. Sowed seeds (indoor and outdoor) and bulbs. Now to see what makes it and what the squirrels and chipmunks dig up.  🙄

 

Take care,

Nicole  👵

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
March 25, 2025

Yes I finally received my first EOB, which was for January.  It was dated February 13, but it came almost 2 weeks later.  I have received my second one dated March 12, which is for February.  So far all 4 prescriptions have been $0.

 

My thyroid medicine is the most expensive.  I paid $0, but the plan paid $93.20 for a 90 day supply.  So far I haven't received any letters saying there is a change in cost for any of the prescriptions.  I take 3, cholesterol, blood pressure, and thyroid.  The January prescription was for an UTI, so not a maintenance drug.   I am happy so far.

 

Hope you plants come up and are not food the the animals.  We grow a lot of vegetables, but not many flowers.  We grow blackberries, asparagus, kale, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, collards, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet peppers, tomatoes, basil, rosemary, chives, onions, and probably a few others that I am forgetting.  My husband is a vegetarian so that's why we grow so many different things.  It also helps with the food budget.

 

The weather here has been mostly in the 70's and 80's.  But we haven't had much rain, so we are in a draught.  We also have had high winds (60+ mph) and high fire danger.  A week ago Friday there were many fires around.  Over 400 buildings burned.  Our town of 18,000 had several shelter for people who were evacuated from a nearby town that suffered a lot of burnt homes.   Still no rain and nearly every day we are a high fire danger.  Winds still get up to 30 to 40 mph but still much better than 60+.

 

Take care.