How to Change Medicare Part D Plans

As your health care needs change, what you need from your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan may also change. This means you may need to switch plans at some point. There are plenty of tools to guide you through this process, and Medicare provide rules and regulations for switching plans.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine whether you are in a Medicare-approved enrollment period. You may still be in your initial enrollment period if you're new to Medicare. New Medicare beneficiaries are entitled to a seven-month period to enroll in Medicare Part D, and that period lasts three months after they become Medicare eligible. Otherwise, wait until the annual coordinated election period to make any changes, which is from November 15 to December 31 each year.

• 2

  Visit the Medicare website. Use Medicare's official website's plan-finder tool to find plans in your area. Click the blue icon on the left that reads "Health & Drug Plans," followed by the hyperlink "Compare Drug and Health Plans & Medigap Policies."

• 3

  Enter the information that the plan-finder tool requests. You do not have to enter your personal information, but you can if you feel comfortable doing so. You will be asked for your zip code, and there is an option to enter your Medicare number and name. Click continue. Answer questions about the kind of coverage you have currently. Continue to plan results and select your current Part D plan from the list it provides. Enter the names of the prescription drugs you take along with your dosage and frequency. That information enables the website to provide a more accurate price estimate. Enter your preferred pharmacy as well. You will be taken to your plans results, where you can compare your current plan to others you may want to choose.

• 4

  Contact representatives of plans that interest you. Ask whether your prescription drugs are covered and whether there are restrictions placed on the drug. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) suggests inquiring about the following restrictions: prior authorization (asking permission before you can obtain the drug), step therapy (requiring you to try cheaper drugs before another drug is approved) and quantity limits (limiting you to a certain amount per month).

• 5

  Enroll in your new Part D plan. Do not terminate enrollment in your previous plan. Enrolling in your new plan automatically ends your enrollment in the other Part D plan, allowing for seamless coverage. Enroll by calling a plan representative directly, or you can enroll through Medicare's plan-finder tool's "Enroll Now" button located next to the plan's listing. Medicare Interactive recommends enrolling by calling 800-MEDICARE. It states that fewer administrative errors are made when enrolling using this method.