Health & Fitness
Part C Medicare Step 3: Preferred Pharmacies -- Yours and Theirs
After entering your zip code (and more detail if you want), answering questions about the type of Medicare you currently have (or less detail if you want), and your drug list, Step 3 in choosing a Part C Medicare Advantage health plan is picking your preferred pharmacy.
Preferred has two meanings when using the Medicare Plan Finder:
- Obviously you can pick the pharmacy you prefer because it is nearby or you like Fred the Pharmacist or you "go by the Walmart in Wareham once a week anyway" or... whatever. Note from the entry in the red circle in the image that you can change the radius of your search for preferred drug store.
- But Part C (and Part D) Medicare plans almost all have preferred pharmacies as well. So if you're willing to drive across town -- or if you live in DennisPort and don't mind going to the RiteAid right over the line in Harwich... or you live in West Dennis and will drive to the CVS in Yarmouth -- you might save some serious money
There is more likely to be some savings if you use a lot of generic drugs (which often have no co-pay at a plan's preferred pharmacy) or if you have one expensive name-brand drug with which the plan has a special deal. For most of us, the trade-off is a few bucks versus time and gas
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
