CVS/pharmacy to provide personalized Medicare Part D plan comparison resources
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health, will offer its senior patients an easy way to compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans during the annual enrollment period of Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, the company has announced.
All CVS/pharmacy locations nationwide will be able to provide to patients a personalized Medicare Part D plan comparison in minutes based on the current prescriptions they fill at CVS. Patients will also have the option to conduct their plan comparison online at CVS.com/medicare or by calling CVS/pharmacy.
"CVS/pharmacy's plan comparison tool provides patients with convenient ways to learn how much money they could save by choosing a new Medicare Part D plan based on their own prescription usage," said Josh Flum, SVP of retail pharmacy, CVS Health. "While pharmacists cannot recommend any specific Medicare Part D plan, we can help patients understand their options based on their individual needs."
While CVS/pharmacy does not endorse any specific Medicare Part D plan and accepts all major Medicare prescription drug plans, it is participating in 20 regional and national Part D preferred pharmacy networks that provide additional savings opportunities for Medicare beneficiaries, including no or low co-pays on generic prescription medications.
The following national Medicare Part D carriers offer plans that include CVS/pharmacy as a preferred pharmacy:
Aetna
Coventry First Health
SilverScript Plus
United American Prescription Drug Plans
WellPoint affiliated plans
CVS/pharmacy is also participating in 16 regional preferred pharmacy networks across the United States.
Annual enrollment is the one time a year that most Medicare beneficiaries can review their current prescription coverage and enroll in a new plan for 2015 if they choose. Because Medicare Part D plans change every year and people's prescription needs may also change, comparing Part D plans could save patients hundreds of dollars.
Whether changing Medicare Part D plans or choosing one for the first time, it is important for patients to consider their annual deductible, premium and co-payments, as well as which plans cover the prescriptions they are taking, any out-of-pocket expenses, and if their pharmacy is included in the plan, the company stated.
Information from a selection of Medicare Part D plans in the local area will be available at Health Insurance Information Centers in all 7,700 CVS/pharmacy locations. In addition, more than 2,000 events will be held in CVS/pharmacy stores across the country during the open enrollment period, during which health insurance experts will provide Medicare Part D plan information to eligible patients.
CVS/pharmacy's dedicated Medicare website also provides resources and information for Medicare beneficiaries, including access to the Medicare Plan Finder, tips on when to consider choosing a new plan and how to lower your prescription costs.