Re: [QUAD-L] Dave K - Part D

[Eric Olson]

All you need to qualify is part a or b.  Income has nothing to do with eligibility.  If you don't sign up you're penalized 1% per month that you are not enrolled when you eventually do.  The doughnut hole refers to the out of pocket costs for your medications.  Basically you have a premium and deductible and some amount of co-insurance.  I think some plans have higher premiums and no deductible.  Your out of pocket costs determine the co-insurance.  I think it's 25% between a-b 75% between b-c 100% between c-d (the doughnut hole where you pay full price for your medications ) and 5% over d (catastrophic coverage ) I know d is 3600.  You'll have to check here for the other amounts.  http://www.medicarerights.org/newlawframeset.html Eric Lori Michaelson wrote:   Hi Dave,   We're here too stewing over what to do.  Recently got a letter from CMS semi-explaining what one must do.  It just says "IF YOU QUALIFY" but, of course doesn't explain how you go abt finding alot of info out.   And don't you have to pick a plan BEFORE Jan 1,2006?  My PN Magazine said something abt a penalty for late appliers?   In our situation, with that BIG mysterious doughnut hole on income ... we may be better off not paying into a plan when it MAY cost us more TO DO SO rather than continue to pay for my scripts outright.   Did you get the list from Medicare.ORG?   Lori Michaelson Age - 41 C4/5 complete quad, 26 years post Tucson, AZ     -------Original Message-------   From: David K. Kelmer Date: 10/20/05 19:08:56 To: Lori Michaelson Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Greg - Medicare and God help us all!   Hi Lori,   Last week I contacted about 30 companies by phone that will be offering a Medicare Part D Plan in Texas and requested an information packet from them.  Some said they'd mail the info out this week, some said they'd mail it out within two weeks, and some said a month or more.  Either way I am going to be doing a lot a comparison shopping before I commit to ANY plan!   With Love, CtrlAltDel aka Dave C4/5 Complete - 29 Years Post Texas, USA  . Lori Michaelson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:   As you know I get weekly email Medicare info (especially on the new Part D prescription plan but alot more).  But it has gotten so complex (for a govn't reason no doubt!) that even Dave (hubby being in a genius category) can not understand it all.   We got the 2006 Medicare & You Handbook today.  All the past ones have been exactly the same pretty much.  This one says on the front that it is different.  In Red.   Understatement!    Toward the back (I think) it says that there will be like $400+ in monthly premiums!  With my SSD check being not much much more than that  ... what the heck?  Plus a debit taken out for the new Part D prescription program whether one is eligible or not!  Thoroughly mind boggling!     Greg ... I hope the plan you chose IS WORKING for you and that you're not just PAYING INTO it!   And, Greg, hope you weren't offended by my last email to you on what to do.  It's hard on me too.  Well two days gone this week ... did you make any calls?  You shoulda got your MEDICARE & YOU 2006 Handbook today too.   Lori Michaelson Age - 41 C4/5 complete quad, 26 years post Tucson, AZ