We Help You With Medicare.
It’s Not All Junk (Mail)
Combined, the amount the member pays in copays during initial coverage and percentages in the coverage gap are known as the “true out-of-pocket” amount, or TROOP. If the TROOP reaches $5,000 (not counting premiums), the member has reached the “catastrophic coverage” phase for the remainder of the year, where the cost of prescriptions goes down to the greater of 5 percent or $3.35 for generics and $8.35 for all other drugs. The silver lining in this cloud is that if you are in the coverage gap or catastrophic stage, all accounts are reset to $0 each Jan. 1, and you are back in the initial coverage stage. If you have any questions about your Part D Prescription Drug Plan, do not hesitate to call us. Prescription drug costs can be frustrating. While we can’t bring drug costs down, we try to help you understand your program better and review potential options. *For those with the Low-Income Subsidy through Medi-Cal or Medicare Extra Help, the coverage gap and catastrophic stage do not apply: They pay a specific copay throughout the year.
You get a lot of junk mail. But each month, there is one letter you need to watch for: the monthly report from your Part D Prescription Drug Plan. This monthly statement includes important information about any prescriptions that were filled during that month, such as the copay you paid for each and the amount the plan paid for each, which together equal the “total drug cost.” Another key piece of information is the accumulated total drug cost so far this year. As prescriptions are filled from month to month, the report will show totals to date and how far you have to go before you reach the Initial Coverage Limit (the 2018 ICL is $3,750 of total drug cost). Most people do not reach the ICL.* For those who do max out the Initial Coverage Limit and move into the Coverage Gap Limit, the amount the member pays for each prescription changes from the copay to a percentage: 44 percent for generics and 35 percent for brand-name drugs. Please read your monthly report, because going into the coverage gap, or “donut hole,” is even more unpleasant when you find out about it during your next refill at the pharmacy!
SUDOKU
BRAISED CHICKEN AND SPRING VEGETABLES
This simple and delicious one-pot recipe is perfect for a weeknight. It only requires about 15 minutes of hands-on work, but will taste like you spent all day building flavors. It’s a hearty comfort food that’s sure to delight eaters of all ages.
Ingredients
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4 large carrots, cut into sticks
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1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
8 small bone-in chicken thighs 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
Salt and pepper
12 radishes, halved
Instructions
3. Remove chicken from pan and scrape off excess fat. Add broth and stir in radishes, carrots, and sugar. 4. Return chicken to pan, placing on top of vegetables. Gently simmer with lid on pan for 15–20 minutes. Finish with chives.
1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. 2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Brown in pan for 6–7 minutes per side.
Solution
Recipe inspired by Real Simple
3
CA# 0D96309
805-646-6409
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