Quick Tips for People with Medicare

If you’ve just joined a Medicare drug plan for the first time, or you switched to a new Medicare drug plan, there are some things you can do to make sure your first visit to the pharmacy goes smoothly.

The first time you use your new Medicare drug plan, you should come to the pharmacy with as much information as possible, especially if you need to use your new coverage before you receive a plan membership card. Here’s what you need to bring to the pharmacy:

• Your red, white, and blue Medicare card
• A photo ID
• Your plan membership card, if you have one
• If you don’t have a plan membership card, you can bring an acknowledgement or confirmation letter from the plan if you have one, or an enrollment confirmation number from the plan.

If you haven’t received a plan membership card or any plan enrollment materials, let the pharmacist know the name of the Medicare drug plan you joined. He or she can confirm your plan enrollment and get the information necessary to bill your plan. Since the pharmacist may have to search for your plan information, it could take extra time to fill your prescriptions.

If You Have Both Medicare and Medicaid or Qualify for Extra Help

If you have both Medicare and Medicaid or qualify for extra help with drug plan costs, you should also bring proof of your enrollment with Medicaid or that you qualify for extra help.

Proof of Medicaid may include the following:

• Your Medicaid card (KyHealth Choices card or Passport Health Plan card)
• A copy of your current Medicaid award letter
• A copy of your yellow automatic enrollment letter from Medicare.

Proof of Extra Help may include the following:

• A copy of your Medicaid card
• A copy of either the green, blue, purple or orange extra help letter from Medicare
• A copy of your Extra Help “Notice of Award” letter from Social Security
• A copy of your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) award letter
• Other proof that you qualify for extra help (such as a “Notice of Award” from a state Medicaid program).

You don’t need to have all of these items, but anything you can bring will help the pharmacist confirm your Medicare drug plan enrollment and/or that you qualify for Medicaid or extra help to make sure you get the prescriptions you need.

What If the Pharmacist Can’t Confirm My Drug Plan or Extra Help Status?

In some rare cases, the pharmacist may not be able to confirm your plan enrollment or that you qualify for Medicaid or extra help. As a last resort, you can pay out-of-pocket for the prescription. Save the receipts, and work with your new Medicare drug plan to be paid back for the prescriptions that would normally be covered under your plan.