Poole’s Pharmacy Care helps with Medicare
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Each year Medicare makes changes to the medical services offered by the agency. What medications the plans cover, which pharmacies are covered and which doctors are considered in-network changes each year, so people on Medicare need to review their plan to ensure it meets their needs.
Medicare consists of several different services. Part A generally covers inpatient hospitalization and stays in a skilled nursing facility. Part B covers doctor’s visits, outpatient care, and medical supplies. Part D covers prescription drugs.
With so many changes each year, it is difficult to wade through this maze without help. Poole’s Pharmacy Care in Lewisport understands this dilemma, and helps people wander this maze and tailor their Medicare plans to his or her specific needs.
The Medicare specialist at Poole’s Pharmacy in Lewisport is Katelyn Boswell. Pharmacy Manager Adria Eubanks said persons interested in receiving help signing up for Medicare must make an appointment to sit down and talk with Boswell to see what specific needs their plan must cover.
“Katelyn will research their current medication list and try to have that information already input in the system where it is ready to go,” Eubanks said. “We can help them sign up while they’re at the store if they choose a specific plan and want to go on and sign up, we can do that or could send them home with the paperwork and the contact information to sign up with the plan once they get home.”
A Computer program at Poole’s Pharmacy connects with the Medicare.gov website, and it allows Boswell to view all the different services covered by Medicare, as well as the costs associated with each service. Eubanks said the program allows Boswell to sort through the plans and find the best one based on the specific needs of an individual. For example, it allows a person to search plans based on preferred doctors or preferred pharmacies.
“It just kind of gives them a breakdown of what the costs would be,” Eubanks said. “We can sort it and compare plans so that they have a tool to help them make a more educated choice.”
Eubanks said the pharmacy prefers people schedule their appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in the late mornings or in the afternoon prior to busy times. She said they would work with a person’s schedule if the above times do not work for them. Eubanks said they schedule an hour for each meeting, but it usually takes about a half-hour.
Eubanks said it is extremely important for Medicare participants to review their plans each year because changes can only be made during the open enrollment period. Open enrollment started October 15, and runs through December 7. Once the enrollment period passes, a person must wait one year until the next enrollment period.
“(If) your plan covered your blood pressure medicine this year, there’s a chance it would not cover it next year,” Eubanks said. “It would require you to (make a) change to be covered.” No charge exists for this service. It is just one more way Poole’s Pharmacy helps to look after its customers, and help them make the best decision possible for their health needs.
“Knowledge is power,” Eubanks said. “If you have more options and more information then it helps you make a better decision for what you need.”
Poole’s Pharmacy is located at 8180 U.S. Hwy. 60 West in Lewisport. To make an appointment, call 270.295.3131.
