Brian Connell
There are new Medicare changes starting in January 2025 that will benefit cancer patients. LLS Vice President of Federal Affairs, Brian Connell, joins us again on The Bloodline to inform us about these new changes and how they will impact Medicare patients.
In this episode, you will learn about the key changes for Part D, the prescription drug plan for Medicare, as well as the drug plan for Medicare Advantage. One of these new changes requires action on the part of the Medicare enrollee, so be sure to tune in to learn more about how you can benefit.
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CLICK HERE to participate in our episode survey.Mentioned on this episode:
- Medicare Change Information
- Medicare.gov
- SHIP counselors
- Be Informed: Beneficial Medicare Changes podcast episode
- Inflation Reduction Act and Medicare
- Information Specialists
- Advocacy and Public Policy
- Financial support
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Excellent information!
Medicare Changes Fact Sheet
The link doesn’t work.
Hi Kent,
Thank you for letting us know about the link. We have updated it to https://lls.org/article/get-informed-important-changes-medicare-part-d.
This only applies to meds covered by Medicare. 2 of my drugs aren’t part of the “formulary,” so not part of the $2k cap. That needs to change. If my doctor prescribed it, it should be covered.
Hi Maryann,
Cancer drugs should be covered. Every single Part D plan has to include every single drug in these categories: anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antineoplastics, antipsychotics, antiretrovirals, and immunosuppressants. Outside of those guaranteed classes, if you need a drug that’s not covered by your plan, you can also work with your doctor to secure a medical exception that allows your off-formulary drug to be treated as an on-formulary drug for the purposes of their cost-sharing.
However, we would recommend finding a plan during open enrollment that will cover those certain drugs. You can also talk to a SHIP counselor for assistance at http://www.shiphelp.org.
Excellent podcast and overview
Extremely useful information well presented. Thanks!!
The link to the Medicare Changes Fact Sheet doesn’t work.
Hi LeRoy,
Thank you for letting us know about the link. We have updated it to https://lls.org/article/get-informed-important-changes-medicare-part-d.
thank you for your work, and for providing the update on Medicare coverage of prescription drugs.
Wonderful, informative information and resource links. Thank you
I have both multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia. Fortunately both in remission. My issue is with the prescription drug program. Both my wife and I are enrolled in Part D. But, I did not enroll until about 5 years after retirement because I worked 33 years for a health care organization which provided a discount to retired employees. Now we pay a penalty of approximately $80/month. Does not seem fair.