How to Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

There are several things to consider when comparing Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. Once you decide what type of plan you need, you will need to compare the out of pocket costs. Co-pays, premiums and deductibles vary for the different plans. The most important thing to consider is whether your medications are covered and how much will you be paying for them with the plan that you choose. Finding out all the information can be confusing and time consuming. The quickest and easiest way to compare plans is through the Medicare website.

Instructions

1. Go to the Medicare website (see the link under References). Scroll down until you see "Search Tools." It is last the item in the menu on the left side of the page. Look to the right of the menu item and choose "Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans." You can also access it through the pop-up menu under "Search Tools."

2. Click on the gray box titled "Find & Compare Plans."

3. Click on the box labeled "Begin Personalized Search."

4. Use the information on your Medicare card to fill in all the boxes on the next screen, and then click "Continue."

Tips & Warnings

• The system will help you choose a plan based on your personal needs. Once you have chosen a plan, the system will help you enroll in the plan. When you have finished, print out the information on the plan you have chosen to keep for your own records.

References

• Medicare