Understanding the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

Things to consider when choosing prescription benefit coverage

The new Medicare prescription drug plan can give you some relief from the high cost of medications, but all this new information can be hard to understand. It’s natural that you might want some help sorting it all out. If you’re considering a Medicare prescription drug plan, please keep the following issues in mind.

Facts about Medicare prescription drug plan enrollment
Medicare prescription drug plan eligibility requirements
Medicare prescription drug plan benefits vary
When you enroll affects your effective date and premium
Humana's prescription drug plans deliver more than drug coverage

Facts about Medicare prescription drug plan enrollment

• If you purchase a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan while you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MAPD), you’ll be automatically disenrolled from the MAPD plan.
  
  
• If you already have a Medicare Supplement policy with prescription drug coverage, you can keep that policy or join a Medicare prescription drug plan. If you join a Medicare prescription drug plan, you must tell your Medicare Supplement insurance company to remove the prescription drug coverage from your Medigap policy. You can’t keep both types of prescription drug coverage.
  
  
• A Medicare prescription drug plan is an option, not a requirement. You do not have to enroll in Medicare Part D. However, even if you do not take many prescription drugs now, you should still consider joining a plan so in the future you will have the coverage you need.
  
  
• If you were eligible for Medicare, but did not join a Medicare prescription drug plan by May 15, 2006, and you do not have a drug plan that covers as much or more than a Medicare prescription drug plan, you may have to pay more each month, at least 1% more (of the national average premium) for every month you wait.

Medicare prescription drug plan eligibility requirements

• To enroll in a Medicare drug plan, you have to meet eligibility requirements
  
  
• If you're entitled to Part A and/or enrolled in Part B of Original Medicare, you're eligible to join

Medicare prescription drug plan benefits vary

• Stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans have a monthly premium in addition to the Medicare premium you already pay
  
  
• If you need coverage for prescription drugs and doctor and hospital visits, you should consider purchasing a Medicare Advantage plan. A Medicare Advantage plan (including most of Humana’s plans) may be able to provide you with doctor and hospital coverage and prescription drug coverage all for one plan premium. Explore Humana's Medicare Advantage plans
  
  
• Humana's prescription drug plan benefits are equal to, or better than, Medicare's required minimum

When you enroll affects your effective date and premium

• In most cases, your coverage becomes effective on the first day of the next month after you join. If you are enrolling close to the end of the month, we recommend enrolling here on our Website or by phone.
  
  
• If you were eligible for Medicare, but did not join a plan by May 15, 2006, and you do not have a drug plan that covers as much or more than a Medicare drug plan, you may have to pay more each month; at least 1 percent more (of the national average premium) for every month you wait.

Humana's prescription drug plans deliver more than drug coverage

When you enroll in a Humana prescription drug plan, you gain access to guidance, support, and convenience:

• MyHumana, your own password-protected, personal page on Humana's Website, Humana.com, which offers online resources to help members make informed health care decisions
  
  
• Maximize Your Benefit, a Humana program that delivers messages about opportunities to save on prescription drugs
  
  
• SmartSummary Rx^SM, a personalized monthly statement that sums up your prescription drug spending and benefits

Plan Choices Compare and enroll. It's easy and convenient. Enter your ZIP Code to explore Humana's Medicare plans in your area. ZIP Code: ZIP Code Lookup