Medicare Blog

what medicare part d options do i have living in maine

by Prof. Jillian Waters Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

How Can You Get Medicare Part D in Maine? You have two main options to get Medicare Part D coverage in Maine. The first is by signing up for a standalone Part D prescription drug plan. These are available to anyone who has Medicare Part A and/or Part B. You may also qualify for a Part D plan if you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that does not include prescription drug coverage. Your second option is to sign up for a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan.

Full Answer

What is the cheapest Medicare Part D plan in Maine?

Medicare Part D Plans in Maine There are 26 Medicare Part D Plans in the state of Maine. If you have a Medicare Supplement, you’ll need a stand-alone Part D Plan. The prescription drug plan with the lowest premium is the Part D Humana Walmart plan, which costs a little over $13 a month.

Are there any Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans in Maine?

Maine Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans. The plans below offer Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan coverage to Maine residents. Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative way to get your Original Medicare. These plans help cover the costs of services provided by hospitals, doctors, lab tests and some preventive screenings.

Is Medigap more expensive when you turn 65 in Maine?

Since Medicare Supplement plans are community rated in Maine, Medigap is more expensive for people turning 65 than in other areas. But, long term, those costs even out. Someone in their 70’s could pay much less in Maine than someone in another state that isn’t community rated.

How does Medigap insurance work in Maine?

In Maine, Medigap plans follow a community rating method, so a 65-year-old will pay the same amount as a 75-year-old as long as they’re on the same policy. Same with those under 65, the policy costs the same as long as it’s the same company and plan.

What Medicare plans are available in Maine?

There are four types of plans available in Maine's Medicare Advantage program: Health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO), private fee-for-service (PFFS), and special needs plan (SNP). Each offers a different level of flexibility in your network of care providers and varies in price.

Does Medicare Part D change from state to state?

If you have a standalone Part D plan for prescription drug coverage, you'll need to sign up for a new one in your new state of residence. “The Part D benefits may be different in another state,” Roberts said. “Even if the plan has the same name, you still have to switch because those plans are state-specific.”

What are two options for Medicare consumers getting Part D?

You may have the choice of two types of Medicare plans—a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan. Your Part D coverage choices are generally: A stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan, if you have Medicare Part A or Part B or both.

What is the most popular Medicare Part D plan?

Best-rated Medicare Part D providersRankMedicare Part D providerMedicare star rating for Part D plans1Kaiser Permanente4.92UnitedHealthcare (AARP)3.93BlueCross BlueShield (Anthem)3.94Humana3.83 more rows•Mar 16, 2022

Can you change Medicare Part D plans at any time?

You can sign up for a Medicare Part D plan or switch from one Part D plan to another during each year's open enrollment period. You also can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan or switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan — with or without drug coverage — during that time.

Can you have Medicare in two states?

You can have Medicare while living in two states, but you'll choose one location as your primary residence. There will be some Medicare plans that benefit you more than others when you have multiple homes. Some retired people choose to reside in two different locations.

How do I choose a Part D plan?

Before you enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan, find out which plans are available in your area and whether they cover your prescriptions. Compare their overall cost and look for a plan that: Features the lowest overall cost.

What are two options for Medicare consumers to get Part D prescription drug coverage assuming they meet all eligibility requirements?

There is no other way a Medicare consumer could get Part D prescription drug coverage. They could enroll in a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan. They could enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan that includes prescription drug coverage.

What drugs are not covered by Medicare Part D?

Medicare does not cover:Drugs used to treat anorexia, weight loss, or weight gain. ... Fertility drugs.Drugs used for cosmetic purposes or hair growth. ... Drugs that are only for the relief of cold or cough symptoms.Drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.More items...

Is SilverScript Smart Rx a good Part D plan?

All of Aetna's PDPs have a Medicare star quality rating of 3.5 out of five stars. CVS/Aetna's SilverScript Smart RX plan has the lowest average monthly premium in 2022, and CVS is one of four main providers of stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans in the United States.

Which is better SilverScript choice or plus?

The SilverScript Plus plan has no deductible and more coverage during the Part D donut hole, while the SilverScript Choice and SilverScript SmartRx plans offer lower monthly premiums.

Is SilverScript a good Medicare Part D plan?

The SilverScript family includes several distinct plans. SilverScript was the only Medicare Part D prescription drug plan serving over half a million beneficiaries to earn a 4 out of 5 Star Rating from Medicare in 2020.

How Can You Get Medicare Part D in Maine?

You have two main options to get Medicare Part D coverage in Maine. The first is by signing up for a standalone Part D prescription drug plan. These are available to anyone who has Medicare Part A and/or Part B. You may also qualify for a Part D plan if you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that does not include prescription drug coverage.

Signing Up for Medicare Part D in Maine

To qualify for Medicare Part D in Maine, you must be eligible for Medicare and enrolled in Parts A and/or B.

Additional Medicare Part D Enrollment Periods in Maine

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) occurs every year from October 15 through December 7. During this time, you may:

Selecting Medicare Part D Coverage in Maine

Whether you choose a standalone Part D plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, you’ll receive coverage through private insurance companies that have contracted with Medicare to provide these benefits. Each plan has different costs and coverage. In addition, plan availability depends on where you live.

What is Medicare Part D?

As a Maine resident, you can purchase a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) with copays as low as $1 at preferred pharmacies in our network. To add drug coverage, simply purchase a standalone PDP to enhance your Original Medicare coverage or Maine Medicare Supplement plan (Medigap).

Medicare Part D Plan Options

Anthem offers Medicare Part D plans with excellent coverage and low or no deductibles.

Medicare Part D Costs

The cost of your Medicare prescription drug coverage can depend on your income and the type of plan you purchase. People with higher incomes may pay slightly more in premiums. The Medicare Part D coverage gap is another important factor in understanding your costs. Find out more in our detailed article on Medicare Part D costs.

Understanding Part D Drug Coverage

Here are some common terms you may run into when comparing Medicare Part D plans.

Medication Therapy Management (MTM)

The Medication Therapy Management program helps members with multiple health conditions understand and use their medications safely. The program is designed to help you and your doctor ensure the medications you take are working together to improve your health.

Attend a Free Medicare Event

Sign up for a free Medicare event to learn how Anthem Medicare plans help cover costs that Original Medicare doesn’t. You can attend a virtual Medicare webinar. Or, if you prefer, come to a live seminar in your area where a Medicare licensed agent will be present to answer your questions.

What percentage of Maine Medicare beneficiaries are in Medicare Advantage?

As of late 2018, about 43 percent of Maine’s Medicare beneficiaries had been enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D plans, but that has dropped as Medicare Advantage enrollment had increased. By mid-2020, about 36 percent of the Maine Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D plans.

How many Medicare beneficiaries are there in Maine in 2020?

As of July 2020, there were 125,831 Medicare beneficiaries in Maine enrolled in stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. In addition to those with stand-alone Part D plans, more than 140,000 Maine residents had Part D coverage integrated with the Medicare Advantage plans as of mid-2020. As of late 2018, about 43 percent ...

What is a Medigap plan?

Medigap plans are used to supplement Original Medicare, covering some or all of the out-of-pocket costs (for coinsurance and deductibles) that people would otherwise incur if they only had Original Medicare on its own.

How long does it take to get Medicare in Maine?

Medigap insurers in Maine must allow a Medicare beneficiary to enroll in a Medigap plan if they apply within 90 days of losing coverage under an individual market plan (not counting a short-term health plan or fixed indemnity plan ), an employer-sponsored plan, or MaineCare (Medicaid).

How long is the open enrollment period for Medicare in Maine?

People under age 65 in Maine are granted the same six-month open enrollment period for guaranteed-issue Medigap plans (starting when they’re enrolled in Medicare Part B) as people who are 65 and enrolling in Medicare due to their age.

How long does it take to switch to Medicare Advantage in Maine?

But Maine law extends that trial right period to three years.

What percentage of Medicare beneficiaries are under 65?

Nationwide, about 15 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are under the age of 65, but this is also higher in Maine, where 18 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are under 65.

How to get prescription drug coverage

Find out how to get Medicare drug coverage. Learn about Medicare drug plans (Part D), Medicare Advantage Plans, more. Get the right Medicare drug plan for you.

What Medicare Part D drug plans cover

Overview of what Medicare drug plans cover. Learn about formularies, tiers of coverage, name brand and generic drug coverage. Official Medicare site.

How Part D works with other insurance

Learn about how Medicare Part D (drug coverage) works with other coverage, like employer or union health coverage.

How much does a Medigap plan cost in Maine?

The cost for a Medigap Plan F in Maine is around $250 a month. But, Plan G, which makes sense for most people, is only about $230. Now, if you’re comfortable with some copayments, Plan N could be a good option for you.

How much is Plan N in Maine?

The cost of Plan N in Maine is only $180 month. Since you can change plans in Maine of equal or lesser value anytime, enrolling in a high deductible plan wouldn’t be our recommendation, only because you can’t enroll in another plan without going through underwriting.

How much is a high deductible plan G?

High Deductible Plan G is only $60 a month. Although, you’ll pay much more when you do need care, in comparison to the other plan options.

Can you change your Medicare plan at 65?

Same with those under 65, the policy costs the same as long as it’s the same company and plan. Further, in Maine, if you buy Medigap when you turn 65, you can change your Medigap plan to another policy of equal or lesser value without waiting for a Medicare enrollment period.

Is Medicare community rated in Maine?

Since Medicare Supplement plans are community rated in Maine, Medigap is more expensive for people turning 65 than in other areas. But, long term, those costs even out. Someone in their 70’s could pay much less in Maine than someone in another state that isn’t community rated. Further, those under 65 will pay much less in Maine than in other states ...

Does Maine have Medicare Supplement?

Maine Medicare Supplement Plans. The best part about Medigap insurance is that the plans offer consistent coverage year to year. You’ll always know what to expect because there are no changes. In Maine, Medigap plans follow a community rating method, so a 65-year-old will pay the same amount as a 75-year-old as long as they’re on the same policy.

Can you delay Medigap enrollment?

Don't delay enrollment. Waiting could result in ineligibility. Once you miss your enrollment period, selecting a plan becomes much more difficult. But, even if you want to change Medigap coverage or enroll after your enrollment period, we can help you find the company most likely to approve your application.

What is the income limit for Medicare in Maine?

The income limit is $1,670 a month if single ...

What is CAHC in Maine?

Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC) is a non-profit organization that advocates for affordable and accessible health care for people in Maine. You can contact the program’s hotline at 800-965-7476. CAHC’s website has more information about the services the organization offers.

What is the maximum home equity for Medicaid?

In 2020, states set this home equity level based on a federal minimum of $595,000 and maximum of $893,000.

Does Medicaid cover nursing home care?

All state Medicaid programs cover community-based long-term care services. Programs that pay for this care are called Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers because recipients don’t have to enter a nursing home.

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