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Agreed. I spend more time than I wish I had to trying to explain to my clients that the plan with the $400 deductible is better than the plan without one for their situation. SS and the Walmart plan catch more than a few who are better served by other plans by being the lowest premium plan with no deductible and the one with the lowest premium. Another scenario that happens too often is when one spouse comes up with the $17 plan as lowest annual the other the $74 plan. "Why does mine cost more? I want the cheaper one, too." Ironic that the way we help our clients most is in the area that compensates us least.But as you know, it's the medication that is the biggest factor in determining the lowest cost plan. If I come across some taking no medication or maybe one or two generic medications, I usually recommend two options and let them pick. I tell them they can go with the lowest premium plan (in my market that's the EnvisionRx plan at $14.60 with a $260 deductible) or the lowest premium plan without a deductible which is SilverScript.
I just had this conversation with a referral who had already done some "research". Based on his personal Medicare and You booklet he wanted to go with SilverScript. I asked him if he had confirmed that his medications were on their formulary or done a comparison. He had not. After running the comparison, SilverScript was nowhere near the least expensive plan.
Unfortunately this isn't a rare occurrence where someone decides which plan they want without comparing the costs. I really enjoy preventing someone from making a costly mistake like this.
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