Tag: Medicare Supplement

Changes to your Medicare Prescription Drug Plans for 2024

Greetings and may this note find you in great health with your Medicare coverage working properly.  Today, I want to discuss changes to your Medicare Prescription Drug Plans for 2024. But first …

If you’re having problems, reach out to Gray or book a time on my calendar if it’s complicated.

Happy man in a blue car.

Don’t you love the smile on this guy’s face? He’s enjoying the day tooling around the old town sharing his city with travelers in this classic car.

That’s the way I’d like to feel every day.

Turtle walking near an old hotel.

My reality is a little closer to this old tortoise who sleeps behind the planters in this old hotel.

Every morning, getting up and out is a little harder. I’m a little achier and often a little grumpier, but, a good cup of coffee makes all the difference in the world.

The Big 65 Medicare insurance broker crew in Aruba.

Once we get up and out, there are adventures waiting, especially when Quantz twists my arm and gets me to do something I’d enjoy but wouldn’t do on my own.

If it weren’t for her, I’d work more and enjoy less. Traveling with Q pushes my comfort zone.

This is an old German freighter off the coast of Aruba. Instead of letting it fall into Allied hands in 1942, the captain chose to sink her himself by flooding the boiler room and causing the engine to explode. I’m glad I wasn’t on board.

A turtle underwater.

Our daughter Sus had to return to her home in Colorado because she had a burst pipe. As you can tell, Plato was happy to see her but he’s still mad at us for leaving him at home with her boyfriend.

Now Quantz, our Air Force son Nicholas, and I have moved on to explore Colombia.

Sus and Plato in Colorado.

Thanks to Tim in Firestone, Colorado for sharing an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal about drug trends for Medicare. Here’s the gist:

In 2024, Medicare Part D plans will have a ceiling of $8,000 for how much they and consumers (combined) will pay out of pocket.

Changes brought about by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act mean that people on Part D plans will pay no more than roughly $3,300 on drugs annually (subject to variation based on brand or generic medications).

Les Lezards Boutique Hotel in Cartegena.

In 2025, the cap will change to a flat $2,000.

The 5% coinsurance that patients had to pay after reaching the “catastrophic” spending threshold has been eliminated. This change is expected to offer significant savings to approximately 1.5 million people.

The rooftop garden at Les Lezards.

The cap on drug costs will force insurers and drugmakers to cover a larger part of the cost.

Potential downsides for Medicare patients include higher premiums and more complicated paperwork.

Quantz and Nicholas at a fruit stand in Columbia.

The changes represent a significant makeover to the Part D prescription-drug benefit.

Cancer drugs in pill form can be costly for people on Part D plans, and these changes are expected to provide substantial savings for patients with expensive medications.

A man and woman walking down the street of Cartegena at night.

Despite all the good news, drug costs seems to be one of the biggest frustrations everyone has.

Quantz feedings the turtles in Columbia.

Remember the following strategies when filling a prescription:

Often, physicians will prescribe a brand name medication without taking into consideration a client’s financial situation. Check with the doctor’s office to see if they can provide you with a sample before you shell out your own money.

Quantz and Nicholas exploring the architecture of Old Town in Cartagena, Columbia.

If you are a prescribed a brand name drug, check with your pharmacist and find out if there is a generic alternative.

A single medication is always easier but sometimes, a combination of drugs can be used successfully and perhaps keep down your costs. Every situation is different so do your homework.

Karl and Marcus in Cartagena.

Before filling the prescription through your drug plan, ask the pharmacist if they have a cash price that is lower than your copay.

If you get into the catastrophic phase every year (which means the total cost of your drugs {paid by you and the drug plan, $8,000 for 2024} then you may want to run all of your drugs through plan but…

If you barely reach the donut hole each year ($5,030 paid by you and the drug plan) or never reach the donut hole, paying the cash price or using a third party tool like GoodRx, Amazon, or Cost Plus Drugs might save you some serious coin.

Life continues to be filled with a million moving pieces but if you take thirty minutes and make a few calls and check a few websites, it might really save you some money.

Please know that even though we are traveling, I have slots open every week if you need me.

Nicholas enjoying the sunset at Cafe del Mar in Cartegena.

Keep squeezing the juice out of life and look for ways to help others!

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

 

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
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Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 10 organizations that offer 50 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Logo for The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services company.

 

What About My Medicare Meds?

Greetings Medicare Insurance Seeker!

It’s that time of year when everyone is being bombarded with false promises of Medicare gold!

If you are taking prescriptions, it’s a good idea to review your options.

1. Look at your Annual Notice of Changes. If the drugs have switched tiers, beware of higher costs.

2. Before filling your prescription, make sure the pharmacy you are going to is a preferred pharmacy in the Part D network.

3. Before filling your prescription, ask the pharmacist the “cash price” for the medication. Sometimes the price your pharmacy can offer is LESS than the discount you receive through your Part D drug plan.

4. Finally, before filling your prescription, check the price using a discounting online app like Goodrx.com. Sometimes this app can really save you money.

Finally, the Annual Election Period is from October 15th through December 7th.

If you have questions about your Medicare Supplement, your Medicare Advantage Plan or your Part D drug coverage…

Book a time on my calendar here and we’ll see if we can reduce your costs and improve your benefits.

Have a great week and call me if you need me!

Who needs a flu shot?

Greetings Neighbor.

I hope this note finds you in great health and excellent spirits despite the crazy times.

Elections, COVID, and crazy weather, believe me, everyone is ready for 2020 to finish 😊.

We’ve been getting a ton of questions about the new flu, and from what I am reading, this year’s strain could be extra dangerous. Click on picture and learn how to protect yourself.

Of course you know you need a flu shot, but did you get one yet? If you have a Medicare Supplement, getting the shot in your local pharmacy for most plans will keep the cost to $0.

If you have an Advantage Plan, confirm with your doctor’s office there is no copay.

In talking with my pharmacist, there are different versions of the vaccine, but they were recommending the High Dose Flu vaccine. It has four times as many antigens (whatever those are). Talk to your doctor, but do the right thing, please, because I actually like having Medicare clients 😊.

Here’s more information about the flu and vaccination options.

Remember, the Annual Election Period is upon us and the new plans for 2021 are finally out. Let me know if your friends and family need help, that’s why I’m here.

Stay safe and please book a time on my calendar if you need me (my calendar only runs 7 days in advance, so be patient).

The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.

What is a Medicare Supplement?

Clients tell me all the time how frustrated they get when people try to sell them plans before they even understand all the Medicare options.

Don’t worry 😊. Our mission is to educate! Once you understand the big picture, then you can call us.

In the previous video, we looked at Advantage Plans, today you’ll get a quick primer on Medicare Supplements.

Medicare Supplements are easy to use: For the privilege of paying a premium, you can go to any doctor who takes Medicare and is willing to see you.

Many people love the simplicity of the plans. Here is the Medicare Supplement Shoppers Guide.

Only you can decide which type of plan will best suit your needs, Medicare Supplements vs Medicare Advantage Plans.

However, once you have a basic understanding of the plan types, the next step is to speak with an independent Medicare Insurance Broker.

You are also welcome to email your questions to Karl@TheBig65.com or just book a time on my calendar and we’ll get your questions answered.

Let me know how we can help!

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a licensed sales agent with no affiliation to Medicare, CMS or any governmental organization.

The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.