Presciption Drug Plan Tied To Medical Annual Deductible
By www.menhealthonline.biz
I'm a retired AT&T employee that has Medicare as their primary insurance and my secondary coverage is through AT&T. This year my selection process did not indicate what company would carry my secondary insurance. The options were labeled AT&T Standard and AT&T Option 1 with the Opt. 1 allowing you to "buy down" the out of pocket expenses.
My secondary coverage for the last 4 years had been Cigna and since AT&T provides my secondary coverage I selected the AT&T Standard plan.
After the close of the enrollment period I received a new medical card in the mail indicating I was now United Healthcare. I carefully went back over the enrollment information which at that time was only around 4 booklets and didn't find United mentioned anywhere.
Packet after packet began to arrive from Caremark which clearly was stated as replacing Medco mail order pharmacy with co-pays of $8.00 for generic; $17.00 for preferred and $35.00 for non-preferred 90 days supply. I promptly get online to set up my new account in which to track and reorder refills only to find that two of the four drugs on file had not come over from Medco.
My next visit to the Dr. I request they send the two medications to Caremark that are not showing available for refill which they did. A couple of days later I receive a call regarding a refill of a drug that previously cost me $66.00/90 day supply that will be $318.20.
It is at this time that the customer service person advises I have an $1100.00 deductible that must be met of medical and pharmacy costs out of pocket. Yes, for the first time the deductible for medical and prescription drugs are now tied together.
Being a primary Medicare patient I have a $100.00 medical deductible per year
