Get Help From = Other Websites

=20

Print these instructions to use with the Medicare.gov Plan Finder=20

How do I find the online Medicare Plan Finder tool?

There are two ways to get to the Medicare Plan Finder online = tool=20 from here. Both ways take you to the same place.

Go directly to Medicare=92s website at http://www.medicare.gov/. =
- In the green box at the top labeled "Resource Locator," click = "Medicare=20 Plan Finder."
Go through a link on this website, My Medicare = Matters.=20
- Click any link on this website that reads Medicare= Plan=20 Finder.

How do I use the Medicare Plan Finder?

There are two ways to do your search:

Look at your Medicare=20 card to find your Medicare number. Then you can do a = Personalized=20 Search. This search will give you the best information = because it=20 considers the coverage you have now. (Skip to Step 1 below to = continue.)
If you do not have Medicare yet or do not want to enter your = personal=20 information, you can do a General Search. Enter your = zip code=20 in the General Search box and click Find Plans. You = need to=20 answer two general questions about your current health care coverage. = If=20 you=92re not sure of the answers, check "I don=92t know." When = you=92re done, click=20 Continue to Plan Results. (Skip to Step 2 below to = continue.)=20

Step 1: Enter the Requested Information

Enter the following information on this page:=20
- Your zip code
- Your Medicare number
- Your last name (including any suffix such as Jr. or Sr.)
- Your Medicare Part A start date of coverage (see your Medicare=20 card for this information). If you don=92t have Part A, click = Not=20 Part A? Click here and enter your Part B start date.
- Your date of birth
Click Find Plans.

Step 2: Enter Your Drugs

Decide if you want to find out how much your drugs would cost on each = plan.=20 It=92s a good idea to check on drug costs to get an estimate of what you = would pay=20 next year.

If no, click I don't take any drugs or I = don=92t want=20 to add drugs now to get a list of plans in your area and = general=20 information about plan costs.

If you do want to get drug costs, enter this information:

Type the name of each drug you take into the Name of = Drug=20 box and click Find My Drug. If there are many similar = drug=20 names, it may ask you to pick which one you want from the = Search=20 Results. Select the correct drug and click + Add=20 Drug.
In the pop-up box, check the correct dose and monthly amount of = each drug=20 you take and click Add drug and dosage. It will then = save the=20 drugs together in My Saved Drug List.=20
- My Saved Drug List: The Medicare Plan = Finder=20 automatically saves your drug list after you enter at least one = drug. This=20 way, you can stop if you need to leave the computer and come back = later to=20 continue your search. Write down or print your Drug List = ID=20 for future reference. You can find your Drug List = ID=20 information at the top of the page, on the right-hand side, under = My=20 Current Profile. You can also choose a new password date to = a date=20 you can more easily remember by clicking (change = date).=20 Some people, for example, choose their date of birth. =
When you have typed in all your drugs, click My Drug List = is=20 Complete.

Step 3: Select Your Pharmacies

If you want to use a certain pharmacy, you can check its prices. = Choose the=20 pharmacy and click Add Pharmacy. If you can use any = pharmacy in=20 your area, click I don=92t want to add pharmacies now. = When=20 you=92re done, click Continue to Plan Results.

Step 4: Refine Your Plan Results

The Medicare Plan Finder will tell you how many Medicare=20 Prescription Drug Plans and Health Plans are available in your zip code. = You can=20 narrow your search on the left-hand column. Click on the = "+"=20 symbol to search, for example, for plans by premium or annual = deductible. After=20 you select the filter, click Update Plan Results.

Now, select the type of plans you would like to review within your=20 Summary of Search Results and click Continue to = Plan=20 Results.

You now are viewing the "Your Plan Results" page. Scroll down to see = the=20 plans available in your area. They are sorted by type and start with = plans with=20 the lowest "Estimated Annual Drug Cost."

You=92ll want to consider three things when looking at a plan:=20
- The monthly premium you=92ll pay to the plan,
- Any deductible amount you=92ll have to pay before the plan = starts covering=20 your drugs, and
- The copayment or coinsurance amount the plan charges for your=20 drugs.
If there is a "no" for any plan in the Drug Coverage=20 Column under All Your Drugs on Formulary, = this means=20 the plan does not cover one or more of your drugs. You can click on=20 Lower Your Drug Costs to learn how to pay less. =

You=20 may need to talk to your doctor and the plan to get more information = before=20 deciding which plan to choose.

You can check up to three plans for a side-by-side comparison, then = click=20 Compare Plans. Detailed information will appear, = including your=20 estimated monthly premium, deductible, copays or coinsurance for each = drug, and=20 so forth. You can also view the plan=92s rating, such as how well it = handles=20 complaints and allows for exceptions.

If you need help with the Medicare Plan Finder or on = reviewing the=20 different plans, get=20 personal help.

Continue= to=20 Medicare Plan Finder