Yes, you can switch your pharmacy at any time with Medicare Part D

This infographic from Walgreens explains some of the findings from a recent survey regarding beliefs about Medicare Part D.

Today I had an “ah ha!” moment at work.

For years I have been telling the over 2 million Medicare beneficiaries in my company’s Part D prescription drug plans that they can often save money by using a different pharmacy. Using a mail-order pharmacy almost always yields savings, as does switching to a preferred retail pharmacy that offers lower co-pays or moving to a pharmacy that simply charges less money overall for prescription medications.

And for years I have been wondering why so few Part D plan members are taking my advice and using a more cost-effective pharmacy. Why aren’t seniors taking advantage of these savings opportunities?, I have often asked my coworkers and friends.

This morning I came across the results of an April 2013 Walgreens survey that answered my question — or at least, provided one explanation.   According to the survey, almost 30% of the 1,000 beneficiaries surveyed did not know that they can switch pharmacies at any time during the year. These 300 Medicare enrollees falsely believed that they could only switch to a new pharmacy during Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment Period.  In other words, they thought that if they were using XYZ Pharmacy when they first enrolled in a plan, they’d have to stick with XYZ until Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7 of each year).

Although many Medicare beneficiaries shun mail-order pharmacies, even though using mail order is one of the best ways to save, retail pharmacies in a preferred pharmacy network are a great alternative for some people. Using a preferred pharmacy — if the Part D plan offers a preferred pharmacy network and there is a preferred pharmacy close to home — can potentially save beneficiaries hundreds of dollars each year on prescription drug co-pays.

However, it looks as though few people are taking advantage of preferred pharmacies. In fact, only 21 percent of respondents switched to a pharmacy within their plan’s preferred network as a way to save. One-fourth (24 percent) said they were unaware of whether their plan offers a preferred pharmacy option.

The survey  “underscores the need to educate Part D beneficiaries about how they can save on prescription and other health care costs,” said Dan Luce, director of pharmacy affairs, Walgreens. Many more Medicare Part D plans are starting to offer preferred pharmacy networks, so I guess I have my work cut out for me.