Other than the premium, there are several important items that we look at when choosing a plan. Make sure you find out the answers to these questions before signing up with any plan.

Medication

How much is it going to cost you and does the plan include what you are taking in its formulary. If you are on a maintenance medication that you take every day or so you must find out the following:

Is there a deductible?

After I pay the deductible how much will my medication cost every month? (Donýt take the stock answer ýyour generic drugs are $5 and your brand name drugs are $30ý).

If I go into the ýDonut Holeý, when will that happen and how much is my medication then?

When do I come out of the ýDonut Holeý and how much will my medication be then?ý

Would it be better to get a stand-alone Part D plan along with a Medicare Advantage plan or supplement without Part D coverage - or get it all in one integrated Medicare Advantage plan?

Hospital Inpatient Co-pay

How much do I have to pay if I go into the hospital? Does the plan have flat co-pays, maybe $50 - $500, even if I stay there 10 days or do I have to pay $200 or more per day? How much do I have to pay before reaching the maximum out-of-pocket cap?

Skilled Nursing benefit

If I need skilled nursing, how much do I have to pay and does the plan have a 3 day hospital stay requirement before receiving these benefits?

The Doctor

Does my doctor accept the plan, how large is the network and do I need a referral from my primary care doctor to see specialists. You also need to look to see how much the other co-pays are although the difference between a $10 doctor co-pay and a $15 doctor co-pay is small.

The Agent

Will your agent compare all available plans for you and get you the answers to the above questions so you can make an informed choice?