I don't have any regular prescription medications and have used SilverScripts Choice plan through Aetna. I just received a notice that next year the monthly premium is increasing from $5.30 to $28.50, and the annual deductible from $280 to $590.

I'm curious if this is unique to this particular plan, or it is part of an across the board massive increase. Any others experiencing similar increases?

It's probably Aetna, they're horrible, it's what I'm stuck with for health plans.

My open enrollment at work begins this month sometime and I'm dreading the rate increases with this shit so-called "healthcare" provider.

Check out Wellcare for your Part D plan.

Neighbor has them, said they got a non renewal on the plan, they have to pick a different plan as Aetna was discontinuing the old one...

Is this a by-product of being in an Advantage plan instead of traditional Medicare?

Not an Advantage plan, Medicare G.

Might be related to Aetna being part of CVS. CVS looking to breakup

https://www.reuters.com/busine...rces-say-2024-09-30/

The premiums are set by the drug plan. The maximum deductible for each year is set by Medicare.

Understanding Part D coverage is even more complicated than Medicare supplemental plans. The good news is that you can easily switch Part D plans every year.

There's also good news for 2025. In previous years, there's a coverage gap where you pay a lot more until you reach the catastrophic coverage. For 2025, after the deductible, you pay 25% all the way through Catastrophic coverage where you pay 0%. I think all these adjustments are causing the changes in the premiums.

What you can do is go on Medicare.gov. Enter your zip code and your prescriptions. Then is brings up the plans available in your area sorted in in the order of total cost to you for each plan (premiums plus deductible plus copay). Even within each plan, it makes a difference in cost as to which network pharmacy you get your prescriptions from.

quote:

Originally posted by NOCkid:
Not an Advantage plan, Medicare G.

If you're saying you have Medicare supplemental plan G, you have to understand that your part D plan is separate from your plan G. You can get them from a different company. Follow my directions in my post above as to how you can shop for a new Plan D that may be lower total cost to you.

I knew that Plan D was separate from G, was just responding to the question regarding Advantage.

We have an appointment with our county Senior Services office to compare available Part D plans. I suspect that they may have a greater insight into the plan details.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Aetna had 3 tiers low, med & high. They cut out the low since the Feds capped you out at $2k. and averaged everybody up.

Good topic. I am looking (just looking) at maybe giving plan D a whirl this fall.

The companies managing Medicare have been making a ton of money. Government has cut back the huge subsidy and now you are paying the difference. Yes these are Medicare Advantage plans

6guns was right on the money. Our county's Senior Services Advisor recommended Wellcare's Value Script plan. It looks pretty comparable to Silver Scripts, and there is no monthly premium.

I use(d) Aetna also and my premium (for 2 tier one generics) went from $5.60 to $40.00 for the 2025 year. Did a search - and for me, Wellcare Value plan (IMHO, not affiliated with Wellcare) with $0 monthly and $0 cost per meds was the way to go. I'm lucky in that I use tier one generics, those with tier 3 and up branded get hosed.

quote:

Originally posted by NOCkid:
6guns was right on the money. Our county's Senior Services Advisor recommended Wellcare's Value Script plan. It looks pretty comparable to Silver Scripts, and there is no monthly premium.

Have had Wellcare part D for years. Be sure to check costs for any higher tier meds you take (or may need to) as your part of the cost can get pricey. Needed a medicated cream a couple years ago and my portion was going to be nearly $200 after insurance. Was at Wellcare’s preferred pharmacy and the pharmacist put it on their Kroger-affiliated prescription insurance card which only ended up costing me $16.

^^^^^^^** Yes. I use Good Rx. ^^^^^^^
.

quote:

Originally posted by NOCkid:
I don't have any regular prescription medications and have used SilverScripts Choice plan through Aetna. I just received a notice that next year the monthly premium is increasing from $5.30 to $28.50, and the annual deductible from $280 to $590.

I'm curious if this is unique to this particular plan, or it is part of an across the board massive increase. Any others experiencing similar increases?

The deductible is across all Part D plans.

What you should do is go to Medicare.gov. Enter your prescriptions. Then use the Find a drug plan feature. It will show your current plan and its cost for next year including premiums and copays.

Then below that is the other plans available to you in your zip code in ascending order of total cots (premiums plus co pay).

Each plan is different in the premiums they charge and the copays for each drug. Hence it's necessary to enter your prescriptions. Within each plan, your copays would be different depending on which network pharmacy you use.

It's really a great job by the government negotiating our medicare costs down. </sarcasm>

quote:

s this a by-product of being in an Advantage plan instead of traditional Medicare?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have a lot less hassle with good ole Medicare. These advantage plans will fuck you everway possible. What could go wrong with the government and our US government?