Choosing a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan for 2012

Choosing a drug plan can be a daunting process. There are dozens of plan options where you live — all with different costs and benefits. How can you distinguish between them? How do you choose just one — the one that’s best for you?

The most effective way — free of sales pressure — is to use the Plan Finder program on Medicare’s website. There, you can compare the cost and coverage details of all plans available to you to find your best deal. The plan finder automatically does the math to identify the plan that covers your own prescription drugs at the least out-of-pocket cost. You can save big money this way.

But the Plan Finder itself can be confusing to navigate, especially if you’re not used to this kind of computer search.

This AARP guide helps simplify the process, taking you step by step through the online program to directly find the information you need and avoid pitfalls.

Use AARP's Plan Finder Guide if:

• You’re new to Medicare and picking a drug plan for the first time
• You’re in a special enrollment period—for example, if you recently lost drug coverage from an employer or union, of have just returned from living overseas.
• You did not join a drug plan when you were first eligible (during your initial enrollment period at age 65 or during a special enrollment period) and you now need to sign up during annual open enrollment (October 15 to December 7)
• You’re already in a drug plan but it’s now open enrollment (October 15 to December 7) and you’re considering switching to a different plan that serves your needs better or costs less
• You’re currently in a Medicare Advantage plan but are considering switching back to traditional Medicare and therefore need a separate plan for drug coverage
• You’re not in Medicare yourself but are helping a relative or friend who is in Medicare to select a drug plan
  

Next: Using the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov >>