AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic Prescription Plan for Arkansas Medicare Beneficiaries
| Overall Plan Rating: |  |
|---|---|
| Monthly Premium: | $31.40 |
| Pharmacy Co-Pay: | $325.00 |
| Coverage Limit (ICL): | $2,970.00 |
| Pharmacy Mail Order: | Yes |
| Gap Coverage: | No Gap Coverage |
| Low Income Subsidy: | Yes |
| Medicare Formulary: | 2837 |
| PDP ID No: | S5795-003 |
| Plan Year: | 2013 |
| Approved by CMS for: | AR Residents |
| Rx Plan Type: | Regional |
| Est. Regional Members: | 25946 |
2018 Medicare Prescription Medication Plan Overview
AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic (PDP) is an approved Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) for Arkansas seniors.
The annual premium is $376.80 ($31.40 monthly), and it carries a $325.00 deductible on all prescribed medications. For 2013, the maximum Part D deductible is $325. It goes up a little each year. It went up $5 from last year.
The Arkansas Blue Cross And Blue Shield formulary ID for this plan is 00012061, and it features 2837 FDA approved medications.
For all Arkansas seniors with Medicare benefits, there are two conditions that can change the amount you pay for your plan. The first is quailfying for the Extra Help program, which lowers your premium. The second is the opposite: if a premium penalty has been imposed on you for not enrolling right away at age 65 open enrollment, then your premium will be marginally higher.
Below are a few plans that are comparable to AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic:
- Medco Medicare Prescription Plan - Value at $34.50 per month for Arkansas Seniors
- WellCare Classic at $28.80 per month for Arkansas Seniors
- First Health Part D Premier Plus at $98.80 per month for Arkansas Seniors
AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic Initial Coverage
In the ICP (Initial Coverage Phase) the cost of your prescriptions is shared with your insurance company. You and the carrier each pay your share (as determined by the plan) until you reach the Initial Coverage Limit (ICL). In 2013, the ICL is $2,970 and this number changes each year. This plan has a deductible that you must pay before ICP cost-sharing ICP begins.
Each prescription medication is put into a tier within each Medicare Part D plan's drug formulary. Different tiers have different levels of cost-sharing. It's important to note that these tiers are not completely standardiszed and your prescriptions may be found in different tiers on differnt plans. This is why we provide access to all Part D plans' drug formularies, so you can compare what the cost is for your prescription drugs for different Part D plasn in your area.
The pharmacy co-pay with the AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic (PDP) plan in Arkansas is tiered as follows:
| Tier | Co-Pay Amount | Medications in Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.00 | 1786 Preferred Generics |
| 2 | $45.00 | 712 Non-Preferred Generics |
| 3 | $84.00 | 96 Preferred Brands |
| 4 | 25% | 243 Non-Preferred Brands |
| 5 | 0 Specialty Medications | |
The Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) is $2,970.00. This drug plan offers the full LIS benefit ($0.00 monthly premium) for seniors with Medicare benefits.
AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic (PDP) 2013 Coverage Gap
The Coverage Gap (aka, "Donut Hole") is the coverage phase where you must pay all of your medication costs. Some plans provide donut hole coverage, and if you think that your drug costs will be high enough to get to this level, you should consider a plan with donut hole coverage. You can learn more about costs in the donut hole by reading What is the Medicare Part D Donut Hole? How long it will take you to reach the donut hole with the AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic (PDP) plan depends on your specific prescriptions.
The Gap Coverage with this policy: You must pay the $3727.50.
Plan Members
Nationwide, the number of seniors using the AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic policy is 25,946. In region 19 (your region) there are approximately 25,946 people with this policy (based on 2011 CMS statistics).
More Information About Arkansas Blue Cross And Blue Shield
Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest health insurer in Arkansas. Arkansas Blue Cross and its family of affiliated companies have approximately 2,870 employees. Arkansas Blue Cross differs from commercial insurers in several ways. Arkansas Blue Cross is a not-for-profit mutual insurance company. As a not-for-profit, mutual insurance company, Arkansas Blue Cross is owned by its policyholders, not by stockholders. This means that premium dollars are used solely to pay claims and administrative costs, not to pay stock dividends. Any excess funds are held in reserve for payment of future claims.
The main office of Arkansas Blue Cross is located at 601 S. Gaines Street in downtown Little Rock. Arkansas Blue Cross operates full-service regional offices serving seven designated geographic areas of the state. The Regional Offices, headquartered in Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and Texarkana, offer sales, customer service, medical management and provider relations services to counties in their parts of the state.
The summary (overall) rating for this Arkansas Blue Cross And Blue Shield plan is 3.0 out of 5 based on reviews from 25946 user ratings from the previous year. For more information about the review process, visit http://cms.gov.